1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to express deep concern over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unprecedented political interference in our military's promotion system. United States military advancement must remain strictly nonpartisan and based entirely on performance, leadership, and operational readiness. Recent actions at the Pentagon signal a dangerous departure from these legal norms. Investigative reports and congressional testimony reveal a troubling pattern of political vetting that directly compromises national security and troop morale: - Bypassing Merit-Based Boards: Secretary Hegseth has broken tradition by selectively striking individual officers from vetted, peer-reviewed Army and Navy promotion slates. Under Department of Defense rules (DoDI 1320.04), nominations may only be withheld for documented professional or moral misconduct. - Targeting Exemplary Officers: Earlier this year, Secretary Hegseth overrode the Army Secretary to remove four decorated colonels (two Black men, two women) from the promotion list. This week, he similarly blocked at least seven Navy captains selected by senior admirals for one-star promotions. - Severe Diversity Disparities: Over 50% of the senior leaders Hegseth has fired or blocked are female or Black officers—including General C.Q. Brown and Admiral Lisa Franchetti. This is highly disproportionate, as women and minorities comprise less than 20% of all flag officers. - Ideological Vetting: Former defense officials report that qualified leaders are being quietly blocked based on routine assignments from decades past, such as serving as standard diversity recruitment liaisons. This has created widespread anxiety and mistrust among top brass. When political engineering replaces standard operational meritocracy, it degrades military lethality. Congress has an explicit constitutional duty under Article I to protect our apolitical military. I urge you to take immediate action: 1. Launch Oversight Hearings: Mandate that the Armed Services Committees require Secretary Hegseth to testify under oath regarding his justifications for overturning independent peer boards. 2. Enforce Promotion Law: Investigate whether these unilateral removals violate federal laws mandating that military advancements be based on objective merit. 3. Condition Defense Appropriations: Use the power of the purse to halt Department of Defense administrative funding until traditional, apolitical board procedures are fully restored. 4. Legislate Stronger Protections: Pass bipartisan legislation making it illegal for political appointees to alter or delay peer-selected promotion lists without documented misconduct. Our all-volunteer force relies on the promise that service members are judged solely on capability and character. Allowing political litmus tests sets a dangerous precedent that harms recruitment and strategic readiness. Please act across party lines to uphold standard defense norms and enforce the rule of law.