U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his critics agree on one thing: The Pentagon is in urgent need of transformation. The change he’s pursuing, however, is endangering that vital mission. Hegseth has led an unprecedented purge of the military’s top ranks, firing or driving out at least 20 generals, admirals and civilian defense leaders, including the service chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. In a break with tradition, he has also intervened to block the promotions of dozens of others, a disproportionate number of whom have been Black or female. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll resigned earlier this month, reportedly out of frustration with Hegseth’s treatment of talented and deserving officers. In the middle of a war with Iran, the Army now has no Senate-confirmed leadership. Hegseth has offered no explanation for his decisions. But he has declared a war on “woke garbage” in the Defense Department and hired personnel officials who share his preoccupation. Rising officers appear to have been targeted for even tangential connections to previous diversity initiatives, or