A watchdog group has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DOD) for withholding demographic data on military promotions, suspecting that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices may be influencing decisions. The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in March, seeking a breakdown of promotions by race and gender over the past five years, but the DOD has not responded with the requested data or explained its refusal.
CASA is also requesting all communications regarding DEI practices between key DOD officials, aiming to ensure that merit-based standards remain intact. According to CASA Director James Fitzpatrick, many Americans are concerned about the growing influence of DEI initiatives in the military, arguing that promotions should prioritize merit.
The lawsuit follows CASA’s earlier legal action against the Air Force, which resulted in the release of documents detailing efforts to reduce the percentage of White officer candidates. One slide from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) showed a decline in White applicants from 60% in 2019 to a projected 50% by 2023, with a goal of further reducing that figure to 43% by 2029. The documents also revealed funding requests for diversity-focused recruitment initiatives, including $500,000 for “diversity advertising campaigns” and $250,000 for “influencer engagements.”
Recruitment shortfalls across military branches have created the smallest U.S. fighting force since before World War II. While the Navy is expected to miss its 2024 recruitment goals, the Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force are projected to meet theirs after recent shortfalls in 2022 and 2023.
