DAINES LEADS LETTER WITH ZINKE, ROSENDALE TO DEMAND ANSWERS ON POSSIBLE DOD SPONSORED DRAG QUEEN STORY HOURS FOR MONTANA CHILDREN

Letter

U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a letter to Pentagon leadership today with Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) demanding answers from the Biden administration on the "Drag Story Time" that took place at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana.

Dear Secretary Austin and Chairman Milley,

We write today regarding reports of a "Drag Story Time" for children held on June 30, 2021, at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. If true, this event is yet another example of the Biden administration's obsession with prioritizing a woke agenda at the expense of the national security priorities of the United States.

The mission of the Department of Defense is to "provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security." It is impossible to see how this event at Malmstrom helps the military fulfill its mission rather than a woke agenda. This and events like it at our military bases worldwide further erodes the credibility of one of our nation's most important institutions. At a time when public confidence in our military and its leaders is on rapid decline -- at least in part due to its focus on a woke or overly-politicized agenda -- and the service branches face critical challenges in recruitment that put the readiness of our forces at risk. The Department of Defense's focus should be on the national security of the United States, not the interests of a radical few.

The U.S. military's active engagement in and support for divisive political and ideologically-driven issues weakens cohesion and morale and further degrades the recruitment and retention of men and women serving our country in uniform. In doing so, these policies undermine the core mission of our military and constitute poor judgment by supportive military leaders. Any policies that led to these activities should be immediately and permanently terminated.

Therefore, we request that you provide our offices with the following information:

Who within leadership, whether at the Department of Defense or Malmstrom Air Force Base, sanctioned the "Drag Story Time" event on June 30, 2021?
Were taxpayer funds used to host or facilitate the "Drag Story Time" event held on June 30, 2021, at Malmstrom Air Force Base?
How does the Department of Defense believe hosting an event similar to the June 30, 2021, event at Malmstrom Air Force Base helps to accomplish the Department of Defense's purpose to provide the military forces the resources and capabilities needed to deter war and to protect the security of the United States?
Have other military installations sanctioned or otherwise approved drag shows since the beginning of the Biden Administration? If so, please describe the circumstances for each and whether taxpayer dollars were expended.
We look forward to your immediate attention to this matter and a prompt and detailed response to these straightforward questions.

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