Many indicators, such as chronic recruiting shortages, indicate that our military is in trouble.  Congress is responding by proposing legislation that will begin the process of investigating, mitigating, defunding, or eliminating wokeism in the military.

The one-page CMR Challenge – Woke-ism in Our Military,  which CMR posted in January 2023, highlighted eight legislative measures addressing military/social issues that were likely to be considered in writing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2024. 

CMR’s concerns have been addressed in some way by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and the full House of Representatives, which approved the NDAA for 2024 on July 14.  The Second Interim Report linked here provides information on many issues that Congress is addressing this year: 

      Second Interim Report on National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2024

Topics of Interest Addressed in the NDAA include:

• Meritocracy in the Military
• Chief Diversity Officers (CDOs)
• Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Anti-Extremism Programs
• Gender Identity and Transgender Policies
• Drag Shows on Military Bases
• Parents Rights – DoD Education Activity (DoDEA) Schools
• Sex-Neutral Standards for Combat Arms MOSs (Army Combat Fitness Test)
• COVID Mandate Repeal and Restitution

 Additional Measures of Interest to CMR: 

• DoD Subsidies for Abortions
• Displays of Unauthorized Flags on Military Bases
• Extreme Climate Change Mandates

 Measures passed in both the House and Senate are delivering on promises to restore common sense policies that assign higher priority to military readiness and morale, not woke policies that are not difficult to define. 

Regardless of the issue, woke policies are defined as progressivism taken to extremes and imposed with coercion, even if it hurts the institution.

A review of the measures tracked in the Second Interim Report suggests that Congress is using both the power of the Constitution and the power of the purse to advance sound policies for our military.  

Significant progress has been made, but a full Senate vote has not been scheduled and a Conference Committee to reconcile differences will take place sometime in the fall.                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                               --July 17, 2023

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This informational paper was prepared by the Center for Military Readiness, an independent public policy organization that reports on and analyzes military/social issues and does not constitute endorsement of legislation.  More information on all issues mentioned in the Challenge for Congress is available at www.cmrlink.org.