Senior U.S. Army officials said Thursday that training materials labeling prominent anti-abortion organizations as "terrorist groups" have been used for at least seven years.
The admission comes after a House and Senate inquiry into training materials leaked from a training seminar at Fort Liberty , formerly Fort Bragg, in North Carolina .
“The information that I have at this time indicates that this set of slides has been used for at least the last seven years by the Directorate of Emergency Services at Fort Liberty to train soldiers as they prepare to take on instillation access duties,” wrote Army Secretary Christine Wormuth to Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC).
The slides, leaked last week, labeled the National Right to Life Committee and Operation Rescue as “terrorist groups.” The presentation also said common tactics used by anti-abortion activists, including “demonstrations and protest,” “truth display,” “picketing,” and sidewalk counseling, are dangerous.
The image of the presentation also displayed "Choose Life" license plates as a possible threat. Such vanity plates are sold by several states, with the proceeds being directed toward crisis pregnancy centers.
Representatives from the House Armed Services Committee wrote to Wormuth July 12 requesting further information about the slides, calling the presentation “truly shocking” and “not only absurd but dangerous."
According to the Armed Services Committee letter, 47 uniformed soldiers tasked with guarding the access points to Fort Liberty received the briefing. The training was quickly denounced by Fort Liberty following the leak, with officials saying the slides were not vetted by the appropriate approval authorities.
Budd and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), who both represent in the House the district containing Fort Liberty, also wrote to Wormuth last Friday saying that political neutrality in the armed forces is essential.
The two members of the North Carolina delegation also asked Wormuth to commit to an “installation-by-installation review to ensure that these or similar materials are not being disseminated elsewhere.”
“I share your view that it is critical for the Army to remain politically neutral,” wrote Wormuth, ”and I make this point regularly to all members of our Army, particularly Army field grade and general officers as well as civilians and political appointees.”
Budd denounced the ordeal on X as “totally outrageous and unacceptable.”
“The Army must fully renounce this attack on pro-life Americans and conduct a full investigation,” said Budd.
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During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, former president Donald Trump made reference to left-wing ideology in the military, saying it is a leadership problem.
“We have a great military. Our military is not woke. It’s just some fools on the top that are woke,” said Trump.
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