U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN), Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on the impacts of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies on the Department of Defense.
Rep. Banks' remarks as prepared for delivery:
The hearing will now come to order. I want to welcome everyone to this hearing of the Military Personnel subcommittee. Today's hearing is focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and its impact on the Department of Defense and the Armed Services.
I want to thank our witnesses for being with us today. I hope this hearing provides the opportunity for our Members to have a productive exchange with our witnesses and provide answers to their questions.
Let me set the stage by saying… the military services continue to be one of the most meritocratic organizations in the United States, thanks to the principles established by President Truman in Executive Order 9981: That "there shall be equal treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin."[1] These principles enabled me, a working-class kid from Indiana, to be the first in my family to go to college and join the Navy.
That is what meritocracy provides: an opportunity for everyone regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, or gender to raise your right hand, to serve your country, and to succeed on hard work and determination, alone. And that is what I found in the NAVY—no evidence of widespread racism—just sailors of every color, background, and religion working hard to get the mission done.
But we are now in danger of losing those meritocratic principles to the politicization of our Armed Forces… Thanks first and foremost to the ever-expanding bureaucracy of Diversity Equity and Inclusion policies, regulations, and trainings.
This DEI apparatus is based in faulty science and misguided principles.
In fact, DEI training may be "having literally any effect," including increasing bias.[2] In a review of 418 prejudice reduction experiments, Elizabeth Levy Paluck and her co-authors concluded that much of the anti-bias training is…misguided."
Yet, the Department of Defense and the Services have embraced DEI training full-cloth, without empirical evidence…. And worse, they very well may be increasing racism and division in our military…
This comes at a time when existential threats from China and Russia have NEVER been more pronounced… And at a time when recruiting struggles put our All-Volunteer Force on the brink.
With these looming threats, we MUST emphasize the readiness of our Armed Forces. In a response to then Ranking Member Senator James Inhofe of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman Milley reported that DoD expended 5,359,311 Man Hours for Secretary Austin's Extremism Standdown and an additional 529, 711 Man hours for DEI specific training.[3] That is a lot of training hours spent away from honing warfighting capabilities, knowledge, and skills.
Civilian control of the military is the bedrock of our system and avoiding partisan political ideology is essential to the strength and viability of our military. Chairman Milley crossed the line during an Armed Services Committee hearing in the Summer of 2021:
He testified that it's important to study Critical Race Theory, because QUOTE, ‘I want to understand white rage … What is it that made thousands of people assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America?'
The highest-ranking military officer in our Armed Forces interrupted the Secretary of Defense and connected racism to the Capitol riot, all to score partisan political points while wearing the uniform. Should we be surprised by the erosion of trust between the Administration and our service-members? Or between our military and the American public?
This cannot continue. Our service-members and our nation deserve a military that does not make ideological judgements.
I agree with Secretary Austin, who testified at the same hearing that all Service Members and DoD Civilians "deserve an environment free of discrimination, hate, and harassment." I want us to work together to develop a system that remains true to our meritocratic values… that ensures the performance of all servicemembers provide opportunity… not because of the color of their skin or the god they pray to, but because they have worked hard and identify as Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Guardians."
This is personal for me. I was the product of a meritocratic system that afforded a boy from Indiana an opportunity to go to college, serve in the US Navy, and become a member of Congress We must preserve that system.
This is a difficult topic with passionate voices all around… not because we hate each other, but because we all want what is best for our country and the men and women in uniform.
Before hearing from our witnesses, let me offer Ranking Member Kim an opportunity to make any opening remarks.
