Alert

Last week our nation celebrated its 247^th birthday. Every July, Independence Day is a time to remember America's heroes -- including our men and women in uniform -- and reflect on our cherished freedoms because of their sacrifice.

But today, I write with urgency because serious questions need to be asked about the direction our military is taking.

The U.S. Armed Forces has had the reputation of being the greatest fighting force on earth. But recently, our military has been trending weaker and more woke -- with the Biden administration promoting drag queens, Pride flags, and abortion within its ranks.

Radical ideology is replacing American patriotism, destroying morale, and making a mockery of our military on the world stage.

Thankfully, some elected leaders are pushing back against this dangerous nonsense. And Family Research Council is standing with them.

For weeks, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has led the charge to reverse the Pentagon's unprecedented and unconstitutional expansion of abortion in the military by refusing to advance promotions of military generals and flag officers until the Biden administration relents.

In February, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin bypassed congressional authority and implemented a new policy that allows service members and their dependents to receive up to three weeks of paid leave and paid travel and transportation costs to go out of state to receive an abortion.

Under this policy, an estimated 4,000 unborn lives a year are at stake. "The Biden administration wants to mobilize our military against the weakest and the most defenseless: the unborn," Tuberville said in a speech on the Senate floor. "I believe that is wrong. It is immoral."

Family Research Council is working with allies on Capitol Hill and from other conservative organizations to expose the woke ideology that is weakening our military ranks -- but we need your help.

You see, the Pentagon is not only using your tax dollars to cover abortions, but they are also expanding "gender transition" procedures for service members' families -- including minors -- in the military hospital system.

Our military should prioritize legitimate health care for its service members, not mutilating their healthy bodies. The Department of Defense should not be providing medical services that harm military families' physical and psychological well-being, especially by targeting young military dependents, which is essentially child abuse.

We don't need preferred pronouns and Pride flags to turn this ship around. We need true, principled leadership, starting at the Pentagon and all through the ranks, focused on the military's primary mission -- defending our nation.

We have a multifaceted plan to make a difference, including calling all believers to pray for our leaders in Congress and the military, stand united with them against this woke ideology, and vote at the ballot box for those who support our military and will fight to strengthen it.

John, you can do your part right now by signing the petition to "Return the U.S. Military to Its Foundational Principles." We will deliver your petition, along with the signatures of thousands of other concerned Americans, to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Your petition will tell Defense Secretary Austin and Pentagon leaders to stop promoting pro-abortion and LGBT agendas and instead focus on strengthening our armed forces.

Thank you in advance for signing the petition and for standing with FRC in promoting policies that defend the principles of life and liberty for our warriors on the front lines.

The Petition to Return the U.S. Military to Its Foundational Principles states:

To Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin:

With the increasing threats to American interests and allies across the globe, I am shocked that the U.S. military seems to be more focused on promoting Pride flags, preferred pronouns, and abortions at taxpayer expense than preparing our armed forces to defend our nation.

This political agenda is contrary to the core principles of duty, honor, and country that made our military the greatest fighting force in the world. It also creates a hostile environment for many men and women of faith, discouraging them from entering or remaining in the armed services. The historic declines in recruitment will only continue to plummet until leadership throughout the Pentagon and the military ranks reject partisan and divisive ideologies.

I urge you to address this ongoing problem and return the focus of the U.S. military to training our brave men and women to fight and win our wars.