Nancy Mace Questions Pete Hegseth on DEI Spending and Military Readiness

DEI Spending at the DoD

• 💸 Representative Nancy Mace questioned Secretary Pete Hegseth about the Biden administration's spending on DEI programs at the Department of Defense.
• 💰 Hegseth stated that the spending was in the billions of dollars, directly and ancillaryly.
• 🎯 Mace asserted that DEI programs were a distraction and did not improve military effectiveness or lethality.

Gender-Affirming Care and Military Service

• ⚠️ Mace inquired about the cost of chemical and surgical mutilation under the guise of gender-affirming care for service members.
• 🚫 Hegseth agreed that any amount spent on such procedures was too much and stated they do not improve defense capabilities.
• 🧠 Gender dysphoria has been recognized as a mental disorder and a disqualifying condition for military service, per an executive order.

Animal Testing and Military Capabilities

• 🐾 The Navy is ending animal testing on cats and dogs, a move welcomed by Mace.
• 🔬 Hegseth indicated that other animal tests are under review and will be ended if they do not contribute to military capability or readiness.

Military Recruitment and Readiness

• 🚀 Hegseth attributed the current record recruitment numbers to the election of President Trump and a renewed focus on basic military readiness and fidelity to the Constitution.
• 🇺🇸 He emphasized that the military welcomes all qualified Americans to serve, highlighting increased numbers of females and minorities.
• 🎯 The focus is on returning the military to its core mission of lethality and readiness, away from ideological advocacy.