Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed or blocked promotions for over 80 generals and admirals, affecting roughly 10% of the military’s senior officers as part of a broad leadership reshuffle.

The moves come amid ongoing tensions with Iran and evolving drone and missile threats, underscoring vulnerabilities at overseas bases and critical systems.

Diversity concerns surface as more than half of those affected are Black or women, including two Black and two women among seven Army officers removed from the two-star list.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the actions as within the secretary’s authority, while lawmakers and senior officials call the removals unprecedented and potentially illegal.

Officials say the purge appears driven by Hegseth’s aim to install leaders aligned with his political and ideological views, rather than by demonstrated performance.

The shake-up has disrupted potential successors to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, with at least three candidates considered potential successors forced out, including George himself in April.

In one case, a combat-experienced officer was removed from a one-star promotion list due to a mistaken belief about a women’s mentorship group and an all-female airborne jump conducted before Hegseth’s command.

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll resigned after reportedly telling the President that Hegseth had removed combat-tested leaders, raising morale and merit-based promotion concerns.

Hegseth has refused to publicly explain the rationale behind the removals, fueling Pentagon tensions and congressional concern.

Hegseth has previously justified similar actions, including a 20% reduction in four-star positions last year to streamline leadership.

Analyses warn the upheaval could reduce top-level diversity for years, with a New York Times finding that women’s nominations to general and admiral roles are at a 25-year low and no admiral nominations are anticipated this year for the first time in over a decade.

Seven Army officers on a two-star promotion list were targeted for removal, signaling a broader realignment of senior leadership.