Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks declared that policies directed toward “nonbinary service members” are necessary for national security.
During a June 5 Pride event, Hicks said, “We’ve heard concerns about … policies focused on the needs of nonbinary service members. Please know our commitment is resolute, just as it has been over the past three-and-a-half years, to continue our progress in full alignment with our focus on readiness and our focus on the well-being of our people, on which our readiness depends.”
The Pentagon told Fox News Digital that policies specifically for “nonbinary” individuals do not exist.
A spokesperson for Hicks told the outlet that the Pentagon official “spoke about the need for Americans to choose public service in order to sustain our all-volunteer force, and the need to ensure health, safety and trust within our military as a matter of readiness.”
“That would include listening to servicemember input on a wide variety of policies-not just the ones she highlighted on this occasion,” the spokesperson continued. “She didn’t talk about, or imply, the importance of any particular policy in the context of national security.”
Fox News exposed a similar remark made by Hicks in 2022, wherein she said the Pentagon supports the development of a climate of “inclusion.”
“Secretary Austin and I are committed to holding leaders at all levels responsible for fostering climates of inclusion that support dialog, including for LGBTQ+ community. This is a core readiness issue,” she said,” adding that the Defense Department will direct efforts to “improve leaders’ skill development and foster more effective, inclusive team environments.”
The comments were condemned by Republicans on social media.
Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) wrote, “Instead of closing the border & stopping terrorists from entering our country, Biden is focused on this stupid woke crap. Vote Trump!”
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) also criticized the statement, saying, “Joe Biden’s national security priority is creating policies for non binary identities.” She added, “Yes, you read that right – not the border, terrorist threats, foreign wars, or anything actually related to national security.”
Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) called the Pentagon’s ideology “woke garbage,” declaring, “America deserves better!”
