House to Interrogate Army Officials over Training Slides Labeling Pro-Life Groups as Terrorists
The Army admitted to incorrectly categorizing pro-life and animal rights groups, including PETA, as terrorist organizations.
Next week, Army officials will testify at a House Republican hearing about a training presentation that labeled pro-life groups as terrorists, according to Planet Chronicle Digital's exclusive report.
On Thursday afternoon, the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel will hear from Agnes Schaefer, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and Reserve affairs, and Lt. Gen. Patrick Matlock, Army deputy chief of staff.
A letter was written by Republicans, led by Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers and Subcommittee Chairman Jim Banks, to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth requesting information about the slide deck.
The Army has acknowledged that the slides they previously provided inaccurately labeled pro-life groups like Right to Life and Operation Rescue as "terrorist organizations," along with several pro-animal and green organizations such as PETA.
The training deck used to instruct 9,100 Army soldiers at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, from 2017 to 2024 did not align with the Army's antiterrorism policy and training.
Fort Liberty leadership has not reviewed the slides, and they are no longer in use. Schaefer stated that there is no evidence to suggest the individual who created the slide deck did so to deliberately subvert Army policy or to further a personal viewpoint.
The slides were utilized for terror awareness instruction of soldiers tasked with safeguarding Fort Liberty's gates. Schaefer stated that the slides were not made available beyond Fort Liberty.
In July, a Republican letter stated that the slides suggested that members of pro-life organizations could pose a threat to the safety of military installations and that items like pro-life license plates could be indicative of terrorism.
The individual utilizing the slides at the Fayetteville, North Carolina, garrison continues to be employed at the facility, according to officials.
Banks stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that it is absurd to assert that the slide deck does not support a personal perspective, despite the fact that there have been no repercussions for the employee who conducted anti-life training sessions at Fort Liberty, which clearly violated Army policy.
The hearing will be held to obtain answers on the cause of this incident and prevent it from happening again, as stated by Rogers.
In June, the Army updated its policies, with Wormuth stating that "in certain circumstances, even if such activities are constitutionally protected in a civilian setting, active participation in extremist activities can be prohibited."
According to the American Legion, service members are no longer allowed to like, share, or engage with content that supports extremism.
Planet Chronicle Digital's Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
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