Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is investigating how the Defense Department (DoD) will spend taxpayer dollars to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) events during LGBTQ+ Pride month.
In a letter sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday, Roy demanded that DoD turn over documents and information on every Pride Month celebration sponsored or supported by the military this June.
His request comes after the Department of Defense shut down a “child-friendly” drag show at a Nevada air base, which had been scheduled for the first day of Pride Month.
“Our military is in a historic recruiting crisis. Our enemies around the world are laughing at us while growing stronger and bolder every single day. The military’s purpose is to defend America and her interests against those around the world who want to destroy us — not to use taxpayer money to advance woke ideology,” Roy told Fox News Digital.
Roy’s letter points to a May 3 memo from Air Force DEI officials that approved observance of Pride and empowered installation commanders to “plan and conduct appropriate activities in honor of Pride Month.”
He asserts the use of taxpayer dollars to host such activities diverts funds from the military’s mission to “deter war and ensure our nation’s security.”
“DoD should be solely focused on mission critical activities that advance military readiness and lethality to deter and, if necessary, to defeat our adversaries.”
“Expending vital resources on this type of political maneuvering, most apparent during the month of June, is inconsistent with the national security interests of the United States and is an inexcusable use of taxpayer dollars,” his letter states.
“Furthermore, pressuring commanders to publicly demonstrate their allegiance to this agenda will further erode the unity within our service ranks and the public’s confidence in our fighting force,” Roy writes. . . . (read more on Fox News)
Letter (pdf)
Dear Secretary Austin:
It has come to our attention that the Department of Defense (DoD) will once again divert American families’ tax dollars away from advancing its mission to “deter war and ensure our nation’s security” to the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) events during the month of June 2023.1
According to a May 3, 2023 memo from the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and the Director of Diversity and Inclusion entitled, “Department of the Air Force Observance of LGBTQ Pride Month, June 2023,” installation commanders are “empowered to plan and conduct appropriate activities in honor of Pride Month.”2
As our nation faces threats around the globe, the DoD should be solely focused on mission critical activities that advance military readiness and lethality to deter and, if necessary, to defeat our adversaries.
Expending vital resources on this type of political maneuvering, most apparent during the month of June, is inconsistent with the national security interests of the United States and is an inexcusable use of taxpayer dollars.
Furthermore, pressuring commanders to publicly demonstrate their allegiance to this agenda will further erode the unity within our service ranks and the public’s confidence in our fighting force.
Despite plummeting recruitment numbers and pushback from Congress, DoD appears adamant about spending taxpayer dollars to impose this blatantly political agenda on our men and women in uniform. 3
We believe the American people deserve a full accounting of the resources that DoD expends on these contentious initiatives during the month of June. Therefore, we request that you provide us with the following information at the conclusion of June 2023:
• A list and brief description of every LGBTQ+ observance activity that each DoD service component (including Guard and Reserve) authorizes, approves, or encourages during the month of June 2023.
• A description of how each LGBTQ+ observance activity that each DoD service component (including Guard and Reserve) authorizes, approves, or encourages during the month of June 2023 advances military readiness or lethality.
• A copy of any promotional materials and/or written communication distributed to service members or DoD civilians to advertise each LGBTQ+ observance activity that each DoD service component (including Guard and Reserve) authorizes, approves, or encourages during the month of June 2023.
• The amount of appropriated or non-appropriated funds, as well as the total number and cost of military, civilian, and contractor workhours, that each DoD service components (including Guard and Reserve) requires to plan, host, promote, or otherwise carry out each LGBTQ+ observance activity.
Please provide the requested information by Monday, July 14, 2023. Thank you for your attention to this important matter; I look forward to your written response.
1 https://www.defense.gov/about/#:~:text=Our%20mission%20is%20to%20provide,and%20ensure%20our%20nation’s%20security.
2 https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chip-roy-slams-air-force-lgbtq-pride-month-celebration-gop-should-drastic-action-military
3 https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/04/19/army-navy-and-air-force-predict-recruiting-shortfalls-this-year/
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