As his term draws to a close, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has forcefully defended the US military’s diversity initiatives, pushing back against criticisms from President-elect Donald Trump and his nominee to replace him, Pete Hegseth, who have labeled the military as too “woke,” Bloomberg reports.
While in Germany for a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Austin, the first Black individual to serve as Secretary of Defense, emphasized the importance of a diverse military that reflects the nation it serves.
“The United States of America has a military that reflects the United States of America — we are a diverse country, we will have a diverse military,” he said.
Austin explained that cultivating an inclusive environment, where all service members feel valued, requires proactive measures, including education and thoughtful policies.
These comments come as President-elect Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, to succeed Austin signals a clear intention to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, as well as other initiatives deemed “woke” by Trump and his supporters. These initiatives also include the renaming of US military bases that previously honored Confederate generals. Hegseth’s past views, including prior opposition to women serving in combat roles, along with his writings on the “woke” theme, such as his book “The War on Warriors,” suggest a dramatic shift in the military’s approach.
Hegseth’s strong views on this topic were also highlighted prior to the November election, when he told conservative podcast host Shawn Ryan that anyone involved in DEI policies “has got to go.”
Hegseth’s nomination is expected to be a major point of contention during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 14, where his views on military diversity and inclusion will likely face intense scrutiny.
