The three-star basic nominated to go the U.S. Space Command declined to endorse the Biden administration’s variety, fairness and inclusion (DEI) insurance policies within the army at a Senate listening to on Wednesday.
Space Force Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, nominated by President Biden earlier this month to be the brand new power’s second commander, additionally defended his firing of an officer who went public with criticisms of the Pentagon management’s drive marketing campaign to impose variety within the army, calling the trouble Marxist ideological subversion.
In an alternate at a Senate Armed Services Committee listening to on his nomination with Sen. Eric Schmitt, Gen. Whiting repeatedly declined to say he endorses DEI insurance policies within the army.
“Do you support DEI initiatives in the military?” Mr. Schmitt, Missouri Republican, requested a number of occasions.
“Senator, I support a ready lethal force that draws from the best talent all across America,” Gen. Whiting replied.
Mr. Schmitt stated that was not his query and pressed the final to say whether or not he backs DEI, which he described as “rooted in cultural Marxism.”
Gen. Whiting stated he helps a “merit-based approach” to discovering the very best folks for army service.
“That’s not what DEI is either,” Mr. Schmitt countered.
The GOP lawmaker additionally pressed the nominee about statements by Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, who was tapped by President Biden to be the subsequent chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Brown advised the publication Defense News in February that “there is still a lot to do” in selling DEI and gender and racial equality initiatives within the armed providers, which he stated had been coping with a “cultural shift.”
Asked if Gen. Brown needs to be relieved of command for the remarks, Gen. Whiting stated no.
A spokesman for the senator declined to say if Mr. Schmitt will oppose Gen. Whiting‘s nomination.
The conservative group American Accountability Foundation earlier this month filed a criticism with the Pentagon inspector basic relating to Gen. Brown, alleging that feedback by the final, at the moment Air Force chief of workers, counsel he’s racially biased.
“Race-based hiring has no place in the military,” the muse stated in an announcement July 10 saying the IG criticism.
Mr.. Schmitt within the listening to additionally quoted statements by present Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley on his assist for DEI. The chairman has stated variety is required “to improve the system, improve the military, improve our problem-solving capabilities and improve our warfighting readiness,” in response to the senator.
Gen. Whiting additionally stated he didn’t imagine Gen. Milley needs to be relieved of command for these feedback.
Sen. Schmitt then raised the case of now retired Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, who was relieved of obligation by Gen. Whiting in May 2021. Gen. Whiting stated he acted as a result of Col. Lohmeier criticized DEI coaching within the army as “rooted in Marxism” throughout an look on a conservative podcast whereas on energetic obligation. He continued to air his criticisms after being ordered not to take action, officers stated.
In addition to his public criticism of DEI coaching, Col. Lohmeier was faraway from command for criticizing “specific political parties,” Gen. Whiting stated.
Questioned by Mr.. Schmitt, Gen. Whiting stated that opposition to DEI insurance policies doesn’t represent partisan political speech, except the feedback advocate for a selected political social gathering or candidate.
Col. Lohmeier’s case “involved a specific quote involving a specific political party,” Gen. Whiting stated, including that the offending podcast was an hour lengthy.
However, a evaluation of the podcast look reveals Col. Lohmeier spoke for about 10 minutes on the “Steve Gruber Show” podcast on May 12, 2021. The colonel was selling a e book he authored, “Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military.”
During the looks, there have been no references to any political social gathering or his chain of command.
Col. Lohmeier, who left the service in September 2021, stated in an e mail that he was fired by Gen. Whiting, then chief of operations at Space Command, for 2 causes. One was for political partisanship whereas performing in an official capability, and the second was for publicly criticizing his chain of command.
“Those were the reasons Whiting gave me over the phone when he called to fire me,” Col. Lohmeier stated. “Both of those reasons are false — never did either of those things.”
Col. Lohmeier stated the final’s testimony on the listening to “clearly demonstrated that Whiting himself was unwilling to affirm his support for the [Defense Department’s] DEI initiatives and trainings.”
“He was asked several different ways if he supported DoD’s DEI initiatives and, instead of affirming his support, said something that nobody could disagree with; specifically, he said that he cared about developing a lethal and ready force.”
The feedback point out Gen. Whiting shares his view that “this woke DEI push” has harm recruitment, retention, and readiness efforts within the army, Col. Lohmeier stated.
“It is unfortunate that Whiting felt sufficient institutional and cultural pressure in 2021 to make the decision to fire me for publicly sharing a nonpartisan view that he likely holds himself,” he stated. “It is more unfortunate still that our senior leaders lack the courage to speak their minds despite the damage our current policies are inflicting.”
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