Hice: Divisive Critical Race Theory Harming Military Readiness

Blasts removal of Lt. Col. Lohmeir as a political act

WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Government Operations Ranking Member Jody Hice (R-Ga.) today blasted the removal of Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeir for expressing concerns that Critical Race Theory indoctrination could detrimentally affect military unit cohesion and military readiness. He was removed from his post as commander of the 11^th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado and the Department of Defense is investigating his actions.

“America’s servicemembers routinely fight on the front lines and risk their lives to protect our freedom. The Biden Administration’s aggressive implementation of ‘woke-ism’ and ‘cancel culture’ at the Department of Defense strips servicemembers of their freedom. It’s appalling that Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeir was removed from his post and publicly humiliated for expressing his well-reasoned and legitimate concerns that Critical Race Theory would harm our military’s readiness and unit cohesion,” said Ranking Member Hice. “Critical Race Theory is a fundamentally toxic ideology with roots in Marxism, and the Biden Administration’s efforts to contaminate every corner of the federal government with this Leftist worldview will only sow division and create discord. How can we trust the Secretary of Defense with our freedom if he’s so willing to treat our military as though it was a liberal college campus?”

In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Subcommittee Ranking Member Hice requests a briefing and all documentation and communications regarding Lohmeier’s remarks that led to his dismissal and investigation, the code he is accused of violating, and any documents from servicemembers who have expressed concerns or objections to being trained based on Critical Race Theory, among others. 

The full letter is available here and below. 

May 24, 2021

The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III
Secretary of Defense
U.S. Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301

Dear Secretary Austin:

I write today to express my concern with a recent decision to relieve Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command, apparently for expressing concern with mandated diversity, equity and inclusion training in the U.S. Armed Forces which promotes Critical Race Theory. The decision to relieve him of his command and announcement that he is under investigation appears to be a politically motivated attempt to silence servicemembers’ disagreement with Critical Race Theory and its impact on unit cohesion and military readiness.

Recently, I introduced legislation, the Contents of Our Character Act, to prohibit employee training programs that promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating within Federal agencies. The proliferation of Critical Race Theory, a radical theory rooted in Marxism which divides and then treats people differently based on their skin color, necessitated this legislation. The actions taken against Lt. Col. Lohmeier further illustrate the need for such a measure.

On May 14, 2021, Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier was relieved of his command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado. A military spokesperson stated that the decision “was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier in a recent podcast” and that Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of Space Operations Command, “has initiated a Command Directed Investigation on whether these comments constituted prohibited partisan political activity.”

I am concerned that the military has characterized this servicemember’s public comments as potentially violating laws prohibiting partisan political activities in the course of his official duties. And particularly in this case, the servicemember did not advocate for or criticize any candidate for partisan political office or political party during his comments in a recent podcast interview. In fact, after reviewing his comments, it is not clear why Lt. Col. Lohmeier was relieved of his command or is being investigated at all. During the interview, Lt. Col. Lohmeier comported himself calmly and with a reasoned approach as he engaged with his studied opinions on the issue of cultural Marxism being propagated within the military. He was polite, courteous, highly deferential to his superiors, and he did not disparage any individuals when expressing his personal concern that such ideologies, including the imposition of Critical Race Theory, would have a negative impact on unit cohesion and military readiness.

Regardless of the popularity of his opinions, expressing his beliefs did not imperil his ability to command or harm the military in any way.

In order to facilitate oversight over the military’s decision to demote Lt. Col. Lohmeier and initiate what appears to be a politically motivated investigation against him, I request a staff-level briefing no later than June 1, 2021 on this action, as well the following:

1. All documents and communications identifying the exact remarks made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier which led to the dismissal from his position as commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron;
2. All documents and communications identifying the exact remarks made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier which would justify initiating an investigation into whether he engaged in prohibited partisan political activity, as well as the provision(s) of law or policy he is alleged to have potentially violated;
3. All documents and communications indicating the exact provision(s) of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, Air Force regulations, or other laws or policies which Lt. Col. Lohmeier is accused of having violated by expressing his opinion in opposition to Critical Race Theory;
4. All documents and communications between Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting and any other person regarding the decision of whether to relieve Lt. Col. Lohmeier of his command and/or regarding the decision of whether to initiate an investigation into Lt. Col. Lohmeier;
5. All documents and communications regarding servicemembers who have expressed an objection to training based on Critical Race Theory, as well as any documents and communications demonstrating that disciplinary action or an investigation was initiated against those servicemembers;
6. All documents and communications indicating whether the Department of Defense permits servicemembers to hold and express personal opinions in opposition to the use of Critical Race Theory.

To make arrangements for the briefing, document delivery, or to ask any related follow-up questions, please contact Committee on Oversight and Reform Republican Staff at (202) 225-5074.

The Committee on Oversight and Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X. Thank you for your cooperation with this inquiry.

Sincerely,

Subcommittee on Government Operations Ranking Member Jody Hice