Emerald Coast Times

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) has raised concerns over the Department of the Air Force's emphasis on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives in a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. Gaetz's letter calls for the elimination of the DEIA working group, which he believes disproportionately focuses on DEI and social-experimentation programs at the expense of national security.

In his letter, Congressman Gaetz highlights the success of the Air Force in achieving staffing and recruitment goals during the Trump administration compared to the recruitment challenges faced under President Joe Biden's leadership. Gaetz argues that the overemphasis on DEIA initiatives has contributed to these recruitment shortfalls. He states, "Your policies have resulted in numerous recruiting shortfalls of a historic manner."

Gaetz also expresses concern about the politicization of the Air Force, which he believes has led to a decline in public sentiment and trust in the military as an institution. He criticizes the DEIA policy document for its lack of references to "combat," "national security," or "merit." Gaetz argues that the document's focus on ethnicity and the establishment of working groups neglects the potential negative impact of an emphasis on DEI on military recruiting and retention.

In his letter, Gaetz respectfully requests that Secretary Kendall and his team reflect on the current state of the Air Force and eliminate the DEIA working group. He urges them not to rely on the standard Department of Defense echo chamber but to steer the Air Force back towards an "America-first outlook" that removes the social-experiment element and focuses on addressing the threats posed by near-peer adversaries.

The letter concludes with Congressman Gaetz's call for the Department of the Air Force to prioritize its core mission of preserving national security. He states, "Please take this moment to steer the DAF back toward an America-first outlook that removes the social-experiment element from the DAF and reorients the team toward addressing the threats of our near-peer adversaries."

This letter from Congressman Matt Gaetz adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the balance between diversity and national security within the military. It remains to be seen how Secretary Kendall and the Department of the Air Force will respond to Gaetz's concerns and whether any changes will be made to the DEIA working group.

To find out more, go to this link: https://gaetz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gaetz-demands-air-force-take-action-halt-woke-dei-strategic-plan