Nearly 7 in 10 Active Duty Military Members Say Pentagon Is Politicized Under Biden

According to data compiled exclusively by Breitbart news, the overwhelming majority of U.S. Active Duty Military personnel believe that the Pentagon is now politicized.

Sixty eight percent of active-duty members claim they have. “witnessed a growing politicization,” While 53 percent of respondents say that the military is becoming more important, “too politicized.” Sixty-eight% also believe such politicization will impact their decision to encourage children to join the army.

The data, gathered by the National Independent Panel on Military Service and Readiness (NIPMSR), show specific policy areas of concern for active duty military at a time when President Joe Biden’s Pentagon has been criticized by many for conducting social experiments in the ranks of the military, as opposed to focusing on national defense. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts established the NIPMSR.

“The Pentagon should be focused on winning America’s future wars rather than prioritizing divisive programs and issues,” Rep. Mike Waltz, R-FL, chaired this panel. “The Pentagon should be focused on how best to counter our global adversaries like China and recruiting the best and brightest to our ranks.”

Changing policy allowing unrestricted service of transgender-identifying persons appears to be a major sticking point for active duty military, with 80 percent reporting that the changes have decreased their trust in the military.

Active duty should also be concerned by equity-based initiatives, such as lowering the standards for physical fitness. As 70% of those polled said that this was a bad idea. “even the playing field” This lowers their confidence in the institution.

The new focus is on “climate change as a top national security threat” 70 percent trust the active-duty military has been lost.

Sixty nine percent stated that critical race theory books were concerning on the reading list of the Chief Naval Operations. Meanwhile, 68 percent expressed concern about sexual assault reports.

If broken down by the top-selected areas that are of concern, the highest ranking were: “over emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives,” The reduction in fitness standards and military funding for abortions.

“It’s more clear than ever that Americans are losing faith in what should be America’s most trusted institution and the current recruitment crisis facing our military is evidence of that,” Waltz said.

Heritage Executive Vice President Derrick Morgan says 2022 “was the worst year for recruiting since the advent of the all-volunteer force, and 2023 is shaping up to be as bad or worse.”

“These alarming poll results confirm what many have long suspected,” Mike Berry, First Liberty Institute director for Military Affairs and senior counsel, was a panel member. “Our military is further adrift than ever and risks becoming completely unmoored from its national security role.”

“This poll is another warning shot to policymakers that we are failing our troops by allowing political activism to deprive them of the focus and high training standards they deserve to fight and win,” Rebecca Heinrichs, Hudson Institute senior fellow, and member of the Hudson Institute panel, spoke.

Breccan F. Thies Breitbart News’ reporter. You can follow him Twitter @BreccanFThies.