Senator Todd Young, US Senator for Indiana | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator Todd Young, US Senator for Indiana | Official U.S. Senate headshot
WASHINGTON – On July 12, 2024, Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and a coalition of 87 members from the Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth. The letter demands clarification following an anti-terrorism training session at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, which depicted Pro-Life Americans as terrorists.
The signatories include Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.). Additionally, 65 U.S. Representatives signed the letter, including Rudy Yakym, Jim Banks, and Greg Pence from Indiana.
Supporting organizations include Catholic Vote, National Right to Life Committee, Family Research Council, Americans United for Life, Concerned Women for America, Students for Life Action, SBA Pro-Life America, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and ACLJ Action.
The letter addresses concerns about social media reports indicating that the anti-terrorism training slides identified National Right to Life members and “Choose Life” license plate holders as terrorists. It states: "Smearing Pro-Life Americans is despicable and emblematic of the ongoing politicization of the military under the Biden-Harris administration."
The lawmakers argue that labeling Pro-Life organizations as threats undermines servicemembers' moral obligations. They highlight that around half of all Americans identify as Pro-Life and suggest this could impact Army recruitment efforts.
The letter notes that these controversial slides were presented to soldiers as recently as July 10th but were not vetted by appropriate authorities. A statement from Fort Liberty claimed that the slides "do not reflect the views of the … U.S. Army or the Department of Defense." However, concerns remain about whether similar materials are used at other installations.
The letter concludes with a request for responses to specific questions by July 29, 2024.
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