Pete Hegseth is alleged to have blocked promotions for senior military officers based on their involvement in various initiatives, the coronavirus vaccine effort, the evacuation of Afghanistan or ties to former Chiefs Chairman General Mark Miley.
A senior official said Hessett's office used Internet search results to flag officers who had already been selected through merit-based reviews, disproportionately affecting women and minorities. Of the 31 officers selected for one-star promotion, nine were reportedly denied promotion.
"As soon as you introduce something else here... Now you are walking away from merit,” said the clerk.
The Pentagon defended Hesseth, saying he was "reviving the warrior ethos" and ensuring promotions remain merit-based.
Source: MS NOW