'Gotta be kidding me': Pentagon official reveals Hegseth's criteria for senior promotions
www.ms.now

... A senior official exclusively told MS NOW how decorated military officers with decades of experience were withheld from promotion after Pentagon staff printed out internet searches showing they had attended official events like promoting Covid-19 vaccinations or marking International Women's Day. ...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth short-circuited a merit-based process for promoting senior officers and instead relied on newly invented criteria that disproportionately removed from advancement women and people of color who had already been approved for promotion, according to three military officials.

MS NOW spoke exclusively to a senior official with in-depth knowledge of flag and general officer selection and assignment who described in detail for the first time how, he said, the results of internet searches were used by Hegseth's office to withhold promotions from women and people of color. He was granted anonymity for fear of retaliation.

The senior official also described how Hegseth intentionally scuttled the promotions of senior officers who were perceived to support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; played a role in implementing the Pentagon's Covid-19 vaccine mandate; were involved in the evacuation from Afghanistan; or had a connection to former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark A. Milley, who served as President Donald Trump's senior military officer but after retirement publicly criticized Trump's leadership.

"I was like you gotta be kidding me', but of course we need people to get confirmed. We need nominations to go through. We need decisions made," the senior official said.

The senior official's account of the application of new criteria was confirmed by two of the officers who were selected for promotion by a rigorous merit-based process to a flag or general officer rank, but then withheld by Hegseth's office. Those officers were told by Pentagon officials over the phone their promotions were being withheld, but they were not given a chance to respond, they said. For most, not getting promoted will end their military careers. ...

Retired Navy Admiral Elected to Congress Calls Hegseth 'Most Unqualified Defense Secretary' US Has Ever Had
www.military.com

... Nancy Lacore, the former U.S. Navy admiral who was ousted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, did not mince words about the leader of the armed forces in a new interview.

Lacore, a Democrat and a retired three-star admiral who served in the military for 35 years before her removal in August 2025, was elected to Congress during last week's midterm elections. Come January, she will represent South Carolina's 1st Congressional District after defeating Republican rival Jenny Costa Honeycutt by fewer than 4,000 votes.

The congresswoman-elect was asked Sunday morning on CBS News' Face the Nation With Margaret Brennan about her thoughts on Hegseth, who has been at the center of impeachment rumors since Democrats' big election victories last week.

The highest-ranking female military officer ever to be elected to Congress, Lacore told Brennan that she and likely others relieved of their duties by Hegseth were "never given a reason" for the decisions.

"I've said since I launched this campaign, Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified secretary that this nation has seen," Lacore said. "He has caused significant damage to us as a country and put us at risk, and really damaged the readiness of our entire military force. ...