A pair of Florida Republicans want the Air Force’s top leader to explain why one of his generals publicly offered her woke assessment of states’ efforts to rein in radical gender ideology.
As reported on Tuesday by Florida Daily, comments by Space Force Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt drew the attention of GOP Reps. Greg Steube of Sarasota and Michael Waltz of St. Augustine.
The lawmakers issued a recent letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall about Burt’s remarks, made while she was in uniform and speaking at a Pride event at the Pentagon, in which she said she would promote less qualified commanders — and thus theoretically put Americans at risk — in order to allegedly protect those with LGBTQ family members from living in red states seeking to safeguard children.
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In her comments, Burt noted, “Since January of this year, more than 400 anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been introduced at the state level. That number is rising and demonstrates a trend that could be dangerous for service members, their families, and the readiness of the force as a whole.”
“When I look at potential candidates, say, for squadron command, I strive to match the right person to the right job. I consider their job performance and relevant experience first. However, I also look at their personal circumstances, and their family is also an important factor,” she added.
“If the good match for a job does not feel safe being themselves and performing at their highest potential at a given location, or if their family could be denied critical health care due to the laws in that state, I am compelled to consider a different candidate, and, perhaps, less qualified.”
In response, Steube and Waltz noted in their letter to Kendall that Burt admitted “she would base promotion and posting decisions on an officer’s sexuality and not their ability to effectively do their assigned job.”
And Florida is among the states that would be targeted by Burt. Her policy would specifically affect Patrick Space Force Base, which is home to 13,000 military personnel, civilians, contractors, and dependents as well as Space Launch Delta 45, which controls and operates Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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“By reasonable inference,” they wrote, “Lt. Gen. Burt is referring to state legislatures like Florida, which are protecting children by preventing their exposure to sexual material in schools and barring gender-transition operations for minors.”
“Lt. Gen. Burt’s speech, again conducted publicly and in uniform, inappropriately commented on laws passed by elected officials (that) reflected the views of their constituents and raises serious concerns about civilian oversight of the military,” they added. “The Space Force must clarify this policy change alleged by one of its most senior leaders.”
“If posting and promotion decisions for Patrick SFB … are determined based on political concerns over state law, and the Space Force is posting less qualified officers to Patrick SFB, that would be an egregious dereliction of the Defense Department’s primary responsibility to ensure the Armed Forces are ready to deter and if necessary, defeat our adversaries,” Steube and Waltz wrote.
“Our nation faces an existential threat from the Chinese Communist Party, which views space as a domain of war and a place to build an asymmetrical advantage against the United States,” they concluded. “This challenge is too important to allow general officer political views to impact military personnel decisions.”
They wanted Kendall to answer:
- If he agrees with Burt’s decision to intentionally promote less qualified leaders;
- How Space Force is affected when senior leaders intentionally promote less qualified candidates based on “progressive ideology”;
- If Space Force would extend the same courtesy to troops who may be concerned about their Second Amendment rights in blue states;
- What exactly is Space Force’s policy on uniformed officers commenting on laws passed by duly elected legislatures at the federal, state or local level.
Republican Rep. Pat Fallon of Texas also signed the letter to Kendall.
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