In an NPR segment, New York Times reporter Greg Jaffe said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked certain promotions of Black and women senior officers and removed transgender service members, actions Jaffe characterised as bringing culture-war politics into the military. The Defense Department's response was not included in the reporting.
Key facts
- New York Times reporter Greg Jaffe discussed Hegseth's actions in an NPR segment published on 7 October 2026.
- Jaffe said Hegseth has disproportionately blocked promotions of Black and women senior officers.
- Jaffe said Hegseth has been removing transgender people from the military.
- The claims were relayed by NPR citing Jaffe's account; no response from Hegseth or the Defense Department was included.
- No specific figures on affected promotions or service members were provided in the reporting.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has brought culture-war battles into the U.S. military, according to New York Times reporter Greg Jaffe, who spoke in an NPR segment published on 7 October 2026.
Jaffe said Hegseth has disproportionately blocked promotions of Black and women senior officers, according to the account relayed by NPR. Jaffe framed these decisions as part of a broader shift in how the Pentagon’s civilian leadership is approaching personnel matters.
Jaffe also said Hegseth has been removing transgender people from the military, according to NPR. The segment presented these actions together as what Jaffe described as evidence of a political agenda reaching into military staffing and advancement.
The claims, as described, centre on senior-level promotions and the status of transgender service members. NPR presented the reporting through Jaffe’s analysis rather than as a point-by-point official account from the Defense Department.
The source material does not include a response from Hegseth or the Defense Department, nor does it provide specific figures on how many promotions or service members have been affected. These claims reflect one reporter’s account and have not been independently confirmed in the material reviewed.
Why it matters
Decisions about military promotions and who is allowed to serve shape the leadership and readiness of the armed forces. The claims described, which come from a single reporter's account and lack a Pentagon response, concern how personnel policy is being set at the Defense Department.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pete Hegseth accused of doing?
According to New York Times reporter Greg Jaffe in an NPR segment, Hegseth has disproportionately blocked promotions of Black and women senior officers and has been purging the military of transgender people.
Where does this reporting come from?
The claims were presented in an NPR segment published October 7, 2026, featuring New York Times reporter Greg Jaffe.
Did the Defense Department respond?
The source material provided does not include a response from Hegseth or the Defense Department, nor specific figures on the number of people affected.