Casey Harper (Center Square)
The Pentagon is under investigation for refusing to release records about how its diversity, equity and inclusion spending benefits national security.
The Center for American Security Promotion filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Defense Department in May, a legal means of obtaining government documents. The Freedom of Information Act request was aimed at learning how Pentagon officials estimate the $86.5 million in public information funding approved by Congress for fiscal year 2023 will actually affect national security.
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But James Fitzpatrick, an Army veteran who heads CASA, told The Center Square that the Pentagon confirmed it received the FOIA request, but has still not released any documents more than 100 days later.
“The Department of Defense has said that diversity, equity, and inclusion are the greatest strength of the U.S. military, but has provided few details about how this is achieved,” according to a disclosure document obtained by The Center Square. “Given the recent freeze on hiring for DEI-related positions, it is unsurprising that national security is being affected in some way. This information is needed to assess how DEI efforts and funding impact prioritization of efforts that advance national security.”
The FOIA request specifically seeks documentation of how the Department of Defense estimates the recent DEI hiring freeze will actually impact national security. The Department of Defense routinely estimates the impact on readiness and national security, particularly when requesting funding from Congress for various equipment, programs, etc.
The most recent National Defense Authorization Act mandates a hiring freeze for new DEI positions while the Government Accountability Office reviews the spending.
CASA filed the lawsuit against the Department of Defense on Wednesday, which was obtained exclusively by The Center Square.
“If diversity, equity and inclusion is truly the military’s greatest strength, or if the military has ever said it’s essential to the success of the military, if the Department of Defense is imposing a DEI hiring freeze … if the position is that increasing spending on DEI means the military will be better and stronger, then there must be a national security deficit that comes with that,” Fitzpatrick told The Center Square.
Pentagon officials and documents repeatedly emphasize the importance of diversity in the nation’s defense.
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Under the Freedom of Information Act, federal agencies are typically required to provide documents within about three weeks, and the Department of Defense has dedicated staff to responding to these requests.
“They are legally required to turn over the records,” Fitzpatrick said, “and they have not done so. They have gone way beyond the friendly standard to provide the records and all they really need is to engage in a conversation. At this point they should have reached out and said they were beginning a search.”
DEI Pentagon spending is becoming increasingly common Controversial In recent years, DEI spending has included higher-paying DEI recruiting, training programs for soldiers on gender pronouns and white privilege, and efforts to recruit non-white Americans into certain positions.
The Department of Defense’s FY 2022-2023 “ Department of Defense Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Strategic Plan ” is typical of the language used by federal employees about the need for diversity spending.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Readiness, Report “Leveraging this strategic diversity and expanding access to attract, retain and develop the best talent our nation has to offer is the only way the Department of Defense can outmaneuver, outsmart and fight all adversaries and threats,” the message read.
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“The 2022 National Defense Strategy emphasizes that to maintain joint military superiority globally and prevent attacks on the homeland, the Department of Defense must build a resilient force by developing, integrating, and investing in our people to maximize our individual strengths,” he continued. “Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across the Department of Defense is not about checking a box, but about acquiring the critical skills and experience to build the combined force we need to defend the nation for years to come.”
The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication.
Distributed with permission From Centre Square.
