Hegseth Blocks the Promotions of Four Army Officers Tied to Generals He Fired

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotions of four Army officers selected for one-star rank, some with ties to senior Army generals he had removed, a U.S. official told The Hill anonymously on Aug. 28, 2026. Those pulled from the list include officers linked to former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, removed in April, and to Gen. Chris Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, ousted in June.\n\nOfficer promotion lists are assembled by boards of peers and are meant to be insulated from political direction. Earlier this year Hegseth removed four Army officers, two women and two Black men, from a one-star list, and he has blocked Air Force and Navy promotions as well; a retired Air Force lieutenant general called the practice unnecessary, unwarranted and unprecedented.\n\nChief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said military promotions are given to those who have earned them, and that this has always been the case under Hegseth. The Army still has no Senate-confirmed chief of staff.