Hegseth praises Army for dumping leadership promotion program that was basically DEI-driven

A U.S. Army program that evaluated candidates for leadership positions based on peer feedback has officially been canceled.

The Command Assessment Program, CAP, was formally established in the final week of the Biden administration and “was aimed at reducing conscious and subconscious biases and using peer assessments and behavioral analysis to choose candidates for command posts,” Fox News reported.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll paused the program for review last month, ordering a “deliberate review of how CAP fits into our broader talent management and warfighting strategy,” a spokesperson told Task & Purpose.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was pleased with the latest development.

“Good riddance,” he wrote on X. “Promotions across [Department of Defense] will ONLY be based on merit & performance.”

Good riddance.

Promotions across @DeptofDefense will ONLY be based on merit & performance. pic.twitter.com/ttGRGsIByA

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) September 3, 2025

The Army will reportedly be reverting to its long-established Centralized Selection Board/List, or CSL.

“Starting in 2019 as a pilot program for selecting battalion commanders, CAP was implemented throughout the Army during 2020 with the stated goal of reducing conscious and unconscious biases and using new methods, including psychology and peer assessments, to evaluate candidates for command roles,” Military Times reported.

The CAP program, made official by former Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, “relied heavily on peer evaluations and behavioral analysis,” the outlet noted. “Additionally, measures were introduced into the program with the stated goal of protecting minorities from bias.”

“While CAP was praised by some for its focus on evaluating positive personality traits in leadership, it cannot be said, to this point, to have generated additional interest in promotion within the Army,” according to Military Times. “In 2024, a record 54% of officers chose not to participate in the program — a jump from the 40% average in 2019 before CAP was widely introduced into the service.”

Hegseth’s reaction to the development was echoed by many on social media who lauded the return to meritocracy.

This is the way it should always be! Merit and performance.

— Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) September 3, 2025

The way it should be. Doesn’t matter your color or creed, just that you’re the most capable for the job.

— Kevin (@Kevin1156637) September 3, 2025

Congratulations on restoring sanity to our fighting forces.

— Leonard Soares (@leonard_per) September 3, 2025

As it should be.
Bring back the meritocracy.

— Ryan (@Ryan_In_Mi) September 3, 2025

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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