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Female Navy officers say they fear a career cap after Hegseth cuts women from promotions list

The Pentagon said promotions are based on merit, but female officers fear the move signals a ceiling after nine sailors were removed from the slate.

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently removed nine sailors from a 31-person Navy promotion list, including three women and two Black men, despite prior approval from Navy leaders and Gen. Dan Caine.
  • Since taking office, Hegseth has fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti and two other female three-star admirals without explanation, arguing that gender quotas made the Pentagon "less capable and less lethal."
  • Before reaching Hegseth, the 31-person list had passed through Navy leaders and the Joint Chiefs of Staff after Navy Secretary John Phelan directed the board to select candidates based on performance and Indo-Pacific strategic competence.
  • Pentagon spokesman Parnell said "military promotions are given to those who have earned them," yet female officers told The Associated Press they fear these removals signal a permanent career ceiling.
  • Consequently, the Navy is not promoting a single woman to the one-star admiral rank this year, despite women representing about one-quarter of all Navy officers and nearly one-third of midgrade ranks.
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Several U.S. Navy officials fear that their careers will be blocked and worry about the future generation of female officials.

·Montreal, Canada
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  • 46% of the sources lean Left
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Winnipeg Free Press broke the news in Winnipeg, Canada on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
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