The U.S. military has long stood apart from partisan politics for a reason. It’s a force meant to serve the Constitution—not a political party, not a president, and certainly not personal loyalty.

Now, that foundation is at risk.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly required that every nominee for a four-star general position meet personally with President Trump before their nomination can move forward. This breaks from decades of precedent. These generals are not political appointees—they are career service members whose promotions have always been based on experience, not ideology.

Forcing senior officers to pass what amounts to a political loyalty test undermines the integrity of our armed forces. It blurs the critical line between civilian oversight and partisan manipulation. And it sends a dangerous message to every service member: that rising through the ranks may now depend more on pleasing a politician than serving the country with honor.

Worse still, this policy is being pushed by a Defense Secretary with little relevant experience, who is currently under review by the Pentagon’s inspector general for a serious breach of protocol involving military strike details. Secretary Hegseth should be focused on upholding military standards—not helping a president screen generals for political alignment.

We must act before this new norm takes root.

We call on the Senate Armed Services Committee to launch immediate oversight hearings into this practice, and to reaffirm that four-star promotions should remain nonpartisan and merit-based. We also urge an independent review of Secretary Hegseth’s conduct, to ensure he is serving the institution—not just the individual currently occupying the White House.

The strength of our military depends on professionalism, trust, and neutrality. It cannot become another partisan battlefield.

Add your name to demand accountability—and protect the core values of the U.S. military before it’s too late.

Photo: Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times