Biden's 'Woke' Agenda Undermining Military Recruitment, Experts Warn

Despite a substantial pay increase, the US military is facing a recruitment crisis due to the Biden administration's focus on 'woke' policies, argues Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Pete Hegseth in his new book, 'The War on Warriors.'

Despite a significant pay increase for junior enlisted troops, the US military is facing a recruitment crisis due to the Biden administration's emphasis on 'woke' policies, argues Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Pete Hegseth in his new book, 'The War on Warriors.'

Biden's 'Woke' Agenda Undermining Military Recruitment, Experts Warn

In his book, Hegseth claims that the military is prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over military readiness and troop morale. He argues that the Biden administration's focus on 'woke' ideology has alienated potential recruits and made the military less attractive to young people.

This assessment aligns with the views expressed by many Republicans in Congress, who argue that the military should focus on its primary mission of defending the nation rather than engaging in social justice activism. They contend that rolling back DEI measures and prohibiting critical race theory within the military would help increase readiness and improve recruitment.

Biden's 'Woke' Agenda Undermining Military Recruitment, Experts Warn

In the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), conservative lawmakers successfully pushed through amendments that eliminate the role of Chief Diversity Officer, any DEI-related offices and their personnel, prohibit the promotion of critical race theory, and ban the use of military funds for gender transition surgeries and transgender-related medical care.

These measures have faced opposition from Democrats and the Biden administration, which view them as attempts to undermine diversity and inclusion efforts within the military. However, Republicans argue that they are necessary to restore focus to military readiness and recruitment.

Biden's 'Woke' Agenda Undermining Military Recruitment, Experts Warn

The NDAA also authorizes a 19.5% pay increase for junior enlisted troops, intended to address concerns about the affordability of military service for young recruits. House Armed Services Committee member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) expressed optimism that the pay raise would motivate people to enlist and stay in the military.

However, some lawmakers, such as Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), have raised concerns about the impact of rising inflation on military families, noting that they may still struggle to make ends meet despite the pay increase.

Biden's 'Woke' Agenda Undermining Military Recruitment, Experts Warn

Overall, the debate over 'woke' policies in the military highlights the ongoing tension between social justice initiatives and military readiness. As the US faces recruitment challenges, policymakers must carefully balance these competing priorities to ensure a strong and capable military.