The Pentagon has prioritized combating extremism in the ranks after the January 6 assault on the Capitol. He said new service members are met with a "hyper-politicized work environment" where diversity and inclusion initiatives are "being pushed constantly" with book readings and discussions.
Lohmeier said he doesn't care about the political views of his fellow service members, whether they're Democrats or Republicans, but he does not want to see institutions politicized. He said about Austin, who is the nation's first Black defense secretary, "I don't demonize the man but I want to make it clear to both him and every service member that if we pursue this agenda, it will divide us. Lohmeier told Wood he was given a "70-page booklet" with "talking points" on extremism. "I have written a book about a particular political ideology (Marxism) in the hope that our Defense Department might return to being politically non-partisan in the future as it has honorably done throughout history," he told he outlet.Lohmeier said the stand down to address extremism in the ranks that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed all of the services to conduct in the wake of the January 6 assault on the Capitol. He said he never intended to "engage in partisan politics"
"I was apprised of the option to have my book reviewed at the Pentagon's prepublication and security review prior to release, but was also informed that it was not required," Lohmeier told. Whiting has initiated a Command Directed Investigation (CDI) on whether these comments constituted prohibited partisan political activity," the spokesperson told the outlet.Īs reported, the nature of Lohmeier's new temporary assignment is not clear. "This decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14, due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead," a Defense Department official told CNN. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. The Department of Defense did not immediately return Insider's request for comment, but an official confirmed to both CNN and that Lohmeier had been removed from his post. Lohmeier was promoting his self-published book "Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military." He also said practices like mandatory diversity and inclusion training, which Republicans have also rejected, create divisiveness in the US, according to. The project has drawn anger from Republicans who have fought to ensure it isn't taught in schools. "And I had recognized those narratives as being Marxist in nature."Īccording to CNN, when asked for an example, Lohmeier mentioned The New York Times' 1619 project, which critically examines the legacy of slavery in the US. "That wasn't just prolific in social media, or throughout the country during this past year, but it was spreading throughout the United States military," he added. In an appearance on another podcast, the Steve Gruber show, Lohmeier said: "Since taking command as a commander about 10 months ago, I saw what I consider fundamentally incompatible and competing narratives of what America was, is and should be," according to CNN. Matthew Lohmeier was a commander of a unit responsible for detecting ballistic missile launches, according to a report from .ĭuring a May appearance on the "Information Operation" podcast, Lohmeier claimed leftist ideologies were spreading throughout US society, including in the media, in universities, in the federal government, and in the branches of the US military. See more stories on Insider's business page.Ī commander in the US Space Force was removed from his position following comments he made on podcasts promoting his new book that claims that Marxist ideologies are spreading in the US military. Matthew Lohmeier was promoting his self-published book that claims Marxist ideologies are spreading in the US military.Ī DOD spokesperson told CNN he was fired "due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead." Alex Brandon/APĪ commander in the US Space Force was fired for comments made during podcast appearances. Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett stands far left. Roger Towberman, second from right, hold the United States Space Force flag as it is presented in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 15, 2020, in Washington. John Raymond, second from left, and Chief Master Sgt. President Donald Trump stands as Chief of Space Operations at US Space Force Gen.
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