Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotion of at least six more U.S. Army officers who were set to become two-star generals. This action is part of a broader pattern of interventions by Hegseth, who has taken steps to influence the promotion of military leaders since he was appointed to his role by former President Donald Trump. The latest reports follow similar actions earlier this year, including the blocking of four officers from one-star promotions in August and four others in March, some of whom were women and Black men. According to analysis by The New York Times, Hegseth has now either blocked or removed more than 80 generals and admirals from their positions, representing about 10% of the military’s top leadership. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a high-profile official, recently announced his resignation after 18 months in the role. While no official reason was given for his departure, reports suggest that tensions with Hegseth may have played a role. Hegseth has openly expressed his desire to reshape the Department of Defense according to what he calls a "warrior ethos," emphasizing a focus on military readiness and a rejection of what he describes as politically motivated policies. In a speech at Quantico, Virginia, in September 2023, Hegseth criticized what he called the influence of "woke" policies in the Pentagon, including diversity and inclusion initiatives, gender-related policies, and climate change discussions. He argued that promotions had been based too often on factors like race, gender, or "historic firsts" rather than merit. "We became the woke department. Not any more. We're done with that s***," he said, calling for an end to what he described as distractions and divisive practices. The Pentagon has responded to these reports with statements defending Hegseth’s authority over promotions. A Defense Department spokesperson told NBC News that promotions are decided by the Secretary of War, and all personnel serve at the pleasure of the President and the Secretary. In March, when reports surfaced that two women and two Black men had been blocked from becoming one-star generals, a Pentagon spokesman called the New York Times story "full of fake news" and denied any bias in the promotion process, insisting that only those who "have earned" promotions are selected.