Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotions of four U.S. Army officers selected for elevation to one-star general, in a move that current and former defense officials describe as highly unusual and potentially targeted. The officers in question are believed to have worked for senior generals whom Hegseth has recently sidelined, stirring concerns about the impartiality of the promotion process.

This year, Hegseth has removed at least 45 officers from various promotion lists, a significant departure from standard military personnel procedures. More than half of the officers affected are women or Black, which has prompted questions from senior military officials about whether race or gender played a role in the decisions.

Some of the officers recently blocked are linked to General Randy George, the former Army chief of staff whom Hegseth abruptly dismissed in April without public explanation, as well as General Christopher T. Donahue, the former top U.S. Army commander in Europe who was pushed out this summer. Both generals had been prominent advocates for modernizing the Army through the integration of drones and artificial intelligence into battlefield operations.

One officer facing a promotion block commanded one of the Army’s earliest “transformation in contact” brigades, designed to innovate tactical use of emerging technologies in combat and training. This officer also authored a graduate-level essay examining how political polarization could affect the Army’s recruitment and retention prospects; officials say it is unclear why this was seen as problematic by Hegseth or his team.

The blocking of these promotions follows a pattern of personnel shake-ups under Hegseth’s tenure, including the firing or forced departure of at least half a dozen senior officers — a generation of combat-experienced leaders. This has created what some officials describe as a leadership void at a critical time when the Army faces evolving threats such as inexpensive drones and missile attacks.

Since General George’s dismissal in April, the Army has lacked a confirmed chief of staff. Hegseth’s nominee for the position, General Christopher LaNeve, who served previously as Hegseth’s senior military aide, has not yet secured enough Senate support for confirmation. LaNeve reportedly has expressed concern privately over Hegseth’s actions in blocking qualified officers, worrying it could weaken the Army’s leadership depth.

Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll, the civilian head of the service, may leave his post imminently. Hegseth has indicated plans to nominate Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, as Driscoll’s successor. Parnell’s nomination faces skepticism given controversies during his Pentagon tenure, including the termination of journalists at the federally funded Stars and Stripes news outlet, which has led to litigation alleging retaliation for critical reporting. Additionally, Parnell withdrew from a Senate race following a custody dispute and allegations of abuse, which were subsequently eased through shared custody arrangements.

White House officials have raised concerns that if Driscoll departs and Parnell does not win Senate confirmation, the Army could be left without stable civilian and military leadership at a pivotal moment.

Meanwhile, dozens of senior Army officers recently dismissed by Hegseth gathered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to attend General Donahue’s retirement ceremony. The event was described by an attendee as somber, resembling a “state funeral” for a cohort of seasoned leaders displaced amid the ongoing personnel upheaval. Defense officials note that these developments mark a significant and contentious chapter in the Army’s leadership transition in 2026.