Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Pete Hegseth removed women and Black officers from Navy promotion list — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth intervened to remove nine Navy officers from a promotion list to one-star admiral rank, including all three women and two Black men who had been selected. As a result, no women were promoted to one-star admiral rank in the Navy this year, despite women comprising approximately one-quarter of all Navy officers. Female officers reported viewing the intervention as a sign their careers would be politicized and capped if they advanced too far in rank.
• Hegseth removes women and Black nominees from navy promotion list — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed all women and several Black nominees from a navy promotion list without explanation, resulting in an all-male, overwhelmingly white slate. The action was reported in the week prior to the article's publication and represents an escalation of Hegseth's purge of military leadership deemed insufficiently aligned with Trump administration priorities.

Supporting reports

• Defense Secretary Hegseth removes four Army officers from promotion list — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed four Army officers from a one-star promotion list, including two Black officers and two women, overruling Army leaders who had cited their strong records. The New York Times reported the removals occurred despite positive evaluations from Army leadership.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth's chief of staff opposed promotion of Black female officer to Military District of Washington command — During a heated exchange in summer 2025, Ricky Buria, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's chief of staff, chastised Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for selecting Major General Antoinette Gant, a combat engineer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, to command the Military District of Washington. Buria told Driscoll that Trump would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events. The Military District of Washington provides security and performs ceremonial duties in the nation's capital, and its commander often appears alongside the president at Arlington National Cemetery.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked promotion of four Army officers to one-star general rank — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotion of four Army officers to one-star general rank, a highly unusual move that prompted senior military officials to question whether the officers were being singled out based on race or gender. Two of the officers targeted are Black and two are women on a promotion list of approximately three dozen officers, most of whom are white men. Hegseth had pressed Army leaders, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, for months to remove the officers' names. Driscoll repeatedly refused, citing the officers' decades-long records of exemplary service. Hegseth unilaterally struck the officers' names from the list, though it is unclear whether he has legal authority to do so. The list was under White House review for Senate approval.
• Hegseth chief of staff told Army Secretary Trump would not stand next to Black female officer — During a heated exchange, Defense Secretary Hegseth's chief of staff Ricky Buria reportedly told Army Secretary Dan Driscoll that Trump would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events. The statement indicates that personnel decisions may be influenced by the President's racial preferences.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth blocked promotions of Black officers and women — The New York Times reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked four Army officers from receiving promotions to one-star generals: two Black officers and two women. The Times characterized the decision as "highly unusual" and noted that senior military officials have questioned whether the decision was rooted in racial and gender bias. The action represents potential discrimination in military advancement based on race and gender.

Supporting reports

• ProPublica reported more than 170 U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents — ProPublica reported that more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by immigration agents at raids and protests, some of whom have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased, shot, had their necks kneeled on, and were held outside in the rain in their underwear. More than 20 of them have said they were held for over a day without being able to contact a lawyer or loved one. At least three were pregnant when they were detained.
• Immigration agents detain over 170 U.S. citizens without due process — According to reporting by Nicole Foy of ProPublica on Thursday, October 16, 2025, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by immigration agents. The detainees have been subjected to violence including dragging, tackling, beating, tasering, and shooting. At least three pregnant women were detained, including one whose home had its door blown off by Department of Homeland Security agents while Secretary Kristi Noem was present. Detainees have been held outside in rain while in underwear and subjected to neck kneeling.