Quill Lawrence

officials familiar with the matter, but not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that Hegseth made the highly unusual move of interfering in the regular promotion process to block three female and three black officers from becoming generals.

A different U.S.

official confirmed that Hegseth has been weeding out senior officers who are deemed ideologically incompatible.

Before his appointment by the Trump administration, Hegseth wrote books disparaging the U.S.

military as woke and suggesting that diversity in the ranks has weakened the force.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Since he took office, Pete Hegseth has fired many prominent black and female officers.

Now, U.S.

officials familiar with the matter, but not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that Hegseth made the highly unusual move of interfering in the regular promotion process to block three female and three black officers from becoming generals.

A different U.S.

official confirmed that Hegseth has been weeding out senior officers who are deemed ideologically incompatible.

Before his appointment by the Trump administration, Hegseth wrote books disparaging the U.S.

military as woke and suggesting that diversity in the ranks has weakened the force.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Two to three thousand troops from the 82nd Airborne, based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, have received written orders to deploy to the Middle East, according to a U.S.

government official who is not authorized to speak publicly.

The soldiers will come from the division's immediate response force, which is able to mobilize worldwide within 18 hours to do a variety of missions.

Along with two marine expeditionary units already sailing toward the Persian Gulf, this could bring about 6,000 to 8,000 American ground troops in close proximity to Iran.

President Trump has alternately said he would not put boots on the ground and that he won't rule it out.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.