‘It's caused damage to Pentagon’: GOP lawmaker accuses Hegseth of politicizing military promotions
WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Rep Don Bacon publicly criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday, June 28, saying the Pentagon has been harmed by a series of senior military firings and what he described as the politicization of the military promotion process.
Bacon, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said recent personnel decisions have negatively affected military readiness and morale. Bacon's remarks come as the administration continues overhauling Pentagon leadership, with more than two dozen senior military officials having resigned, been dismissed or removed since Hegseth took office.
Bacon says Pentagon firings have 'hurt the military'
Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, Bacon said the removal of senior military leaders had weakened the institution and raised concerns about how promotions are being handled.
"I think it's caused damage to the Pentagon, to our overall military," Bacon said, referring to the dismissal of roughly two dozen senior commanders, including former head of US Cyber Command Gen Timothy Haugh. "I think it's politicized the process (of promotions) unnecessarily," he continued. "The way he's done (firings), it's wholesale, and I think it's hurt the military."
Bacon also defended several of the officers who have been removed from their posts. "He's fired about 20 admirals and generals. I've worked with some of them personally...these are great people. We had the head of US Cyber Command fired for no reason," Bacon said.
His comments followed reports that General Christopher Donahue will retire after serving about 18 months as commander of US forces in Europe and Africa. Donahue previously oversaw the final phase of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan during the Biden administration.
The latest departure adds to a growing list of high-profile military leaders who have left their posts since Hegseth became defense secretary, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen CQ Brown and former Army Chief of Staff Gen Randy George.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump also removed Navy Secretary John Phelan while naval operations were ongoing around the Strait of Hormuz.
Promotion concerns emerge as Pentagon rejects allegations
Alongside the senior leadership changes, reports have also raised concerns about the handling of military promotions under Hegseth's leadership. According to reports, promotions for more than a dozen senior officers, including a disproportionate number of women and people of color, have reportedly been delayed or slowed.
The same reporting described an atmosphere of heightened anxiety within the Pentagon, with some officials reportedly required to sign nondisclosure agreements or undergo polygraph examinations before receiving access to sensitive information.
One senior official said, "Everything we did on a daily basis, we were calculating, 'Is this going to keep the boss employed, or is this going to get him fired?'"
In response to the reports, Pentagon officials have denied that promotions are being handled on political or demographic grounds. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed the allegations, saying, "Under Secretary Hegseth, military promotions are given to those who have earned them. Meritocracy, which reigns in this Department, is apolitical and unbiased."
