East Central Alabama News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, and Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, led their Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Christine Wormuth, Secretary of the Army, demanding answers regarding a Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) training held at Fort Liberty that characterized pro-life organizations as terrorist groups. The letter was also signed by Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Mike Turner (R-OH), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Austin Scott (R-GA), Sam Graves (R-MO), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Dale Strong (R-AL), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Cory Mills (R-FL), Rich McCormick (R-GA), and Clay Higgins (R-LA).

In the letter, the members wrote, “We write today to express our outrage at a Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) training held at Fort Liberty that characterized pro-life organizations as ‘terrorist groups.’ The training labeled several prominent and well-respected pro-life groups as violent extremists. The training also indicated the members of these organizations are threats to the safety of military installations and designated symbols of pro-life groups, including state-issued pro-life license plates, as indicators of terrorism. This is truly shocking for an organization that insists on treating everyone with ‘dignity and respect.’”

The members further wrote, “We urge the Army to immediately issue a correction to all servicemembers who received this briefing, to implement rules to ensure officials do not make similar claims in the Army’s name in the future, and to discipline those individuals responsible for spreading such false and divisive claims. Additionally, the Army must reassess Army Directive 2024-07, to ensure that certain conservative and religious beliefs that are outside the progressive left ideology popular in military leadership are not swept in as extremist activity for ‘advocating or engaging in unlawful force or violence to achieve goals that are political, religious, or discriminatory or ideological in nature.’”

The full text of the letter reads:

“We write today to express our outrage at a Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) training held at Fort Liberty that characterized pro-life organizations as ‘terrorist groups.’ The training labeled several prominent and well-respected pro-life groups as violent extremists. The training also indicated the members of these organizations are threats to the safety of military installations and designated symbols of pro-life groups, including state-issued pro-life license plates, as indicators of terrorism. This is truly shocking for an organization that insists on treating everyone with ‘dignity and respect.’

This disturbing training confirmed our fears about the recent publication of Army Directive 2024-07. That is, the Army is utilizing an overly broad policy to police the speech of conservative servicemembers, quiet dissent, and require servicemembers who believe in conservative ideals to hide their identities for fear of retaliation from their commands. But because the Army has yet to provide the training materials to Congress in contravention of their obligation, we can only assume that the training interpreted the Army’s definition of extremist activities to include pro-life organizations as ‘advocating or engaging in unlawful force or violence to achieve goals that are political, religious, or discriminatory or ideological in nature.’ The Army’s repeated statements before Congress and the public that all viewpoints, including conservative viewpoints, are welcome are belied not only by this policy but also by this training.

Even more disturbing is who this training was conducted for: 47 uniformed soldiers tasked with guarding access points for Fort Liberty. Training installation gate guards to consider servicemembers and their families with pro-life license plates suspicious heightens risks they will be involved in needlessly confrontational situations with otherwise permissible drivers accessing Fort Liberty. Disturbingly it also requires soldiers at gates to profile conservatives for their political leanings.

It is crucial our military maintains political neutrality within lawful bounds. Regardless of base commanders’ concerns over potential protests from various groups, suggesting protected constitutional activities by lawful organizations qualify them as terrorists is absurd. We urge immediate correction issuance by the Army for all servicemembers briefed under these terms; implementation rules preventing similar future claims under its name; disciplining responsible individuals spreading such false divisive claims; reassessment ensuring certain conservative/religious beliefs outside progressive left ideology popular among military leadership aren't categorized under extremist activity advocating/engaging unlawful force/violence achieving political/religious/discriminatory/ideological goals.”

With these concerns outlined we request answers by July 25th:

1. What was DES leadership involvement extent creating presentation? Was it approved?

2. Fort Liberty's statement claims slides weren't "vetted by appropriate approval authorities." Who were they?

3. Processes reviewing/approving content briefings? Why weren’t followed here?

4. Duration using particular slides? Standard deck utilization duration?

5. Where else altered slides used? Any other Army units used altered slide decks?

6. Can confirmation anti-terrorism guidance/training review approval compliance ensuring no constitutional speech violations encouragements occur?

7. Plans issuing correction/disavowal instructing attendees Pro-Life Organizations aren’t terrorist groups?

8. Process categorizing civilian advocacy constitutionally protected activities.

9. Does participating Pro-Life advocacy/abortion-related counseling near military installations count terroristic activity?

10 Future slides review alignment current DoD anti-terrorism guidance group designations terrorist/base security threats?

The Committee on Armed Services holds oversight jurisdiction over Department Defense generally per Rule X clause 1 House Representatives Rules deriving authority from clauses 2(b)(1) general oversight responsibilities; 3(b) special oversight functions; 1(b) investigations/studies.

Thank you for your attention awaiting prompt response.”