CENTER SQUARE—The U.S. Department of Defense is under scrutiny for refusing to release records about exactly how spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion helps with national security.

The Center to Advance Security in America in May filed with the Defense Department a Freedom of Information Act Request, the legal pathway to obtain government documents. The FOIA sought to find out what Pentagon officials estimate is the real impact on national security of DEI spending, for which Congress approved $86.5 million in fiscal year 2023.

However, James Fitzpatrick, an Army veteran who leads CASA, told The Center Square that the Defense Department has confirmed it received the FOIA request, but still has not released any documents more than 100 days later.

“The Department of Defense has stated that diversity, equity, and inclusion is the American military’s greatest strength, but has rarely detailed how,” reads the FOIA, which was obtained by The Center Square. “Given the recent hiring freeze on DEI-related positions, it must follow that national security has been affected in some way. The information........

© The Daily Signal