• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy House GOP warns Biden’s policy blunders, China’s spying could worsen ‘alarming’ military recruitment crisis
Economy

House GOP warns Biden’s policy blunders, China’s spying could worsen ‘alarming’ military recruitment crisis

by February 12, 2023
by February 12, 2023 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

FIRST ON FOX: Four House Republicans, all military veterans, are warning that the Biden administration’s handling of incidents like the Chinese spy balloon and Afghanistan withdrawal will further hamper military recruiting efforts.

While a number of factors have contributed to the military recruitment crisis in recent years – including COVID-19 and President Biden’s decision to evacuate Afghanistan — fiscal year 2022 was the worst year for military recruiting since the services switched to an all-volunteer force in 1973.

‘According to a recent Heritage foundation poll, 68% of active-duty service members shared that the politicization of our military — particularly this administration’s focus on climate and gender issues as top national security priorities — would negatively impact their decision to encourage their children to join,’ Florida GOP Rep. Michael Waltz told Fox News Digital.

Waltz, an Army veteran, described the recruitment struggle as ‘alarming’ and said ‘the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, failure to deter the invasion of Ukraine, and now lack of action to take out the Chinese spy balloon over the Pacific Ocean [are] key examples of a White House that is projecting weakness rather than strength to our adversaries and dissuading young Americans from signing up.’

The coronavirus pandemic cut away at U.S. military readiness among both recruits and service members, with President Biden’s administration imposing a service-wide vaccine mandate.

The U.S. Army cut roughly 60,000 National Guard and Reserves members from pay and benefits for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine at the beginning of July 2022, as more than 30% of its recruitment slots sat unfilled.

‘As a retired major in the Army Reserve with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I assure you that President Biden’s lackluster response to the Chinese spy balloon made America look weak on the world stage,’ Texas GOP Rep. Troy Nehls told Fox. ‘We know the COVID-19 vaccine mandate hurt recruitment, but this latest instance will be a serious blow to our numbers.’

Nehls, who has represented the Lone Star State’s 22nd Congressional District since 2021, added: ‘President Trump showed peace through strength, and that is why we had the strongest and most feared fighting force in the world.’

In agreement, GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a veteran of the Air Force, told Fox that the cause of military recruitment issues ‘is multiple,’ but that he believes the ‘Chinese balloon incident will reinforce the belief by some that the President is not a good commander in chief.’

‘This will be seen by some as a continuation of what they saw with the Afghanistan withdrawal,’ Bacon continued. ‘The President should have more vigorously defended our sovereignty.’

‘Some question if they want to serve during the Biden administration after the Afghanistan debacle. Some also see the Administration pushing woke policies on the military and taking an eye off developing the best warfighting force in the world,’ Bacon said. ‘There’s also some economic reasons that are disincentives. Private-sector pay is up, and more companies are offering tuition assistance.’

With a focus on providing better pay and necessities for those who serve in the military, Bacon will chair a quality-of-life panel under the Armed Services Committee in an effort to get to the ‘issues that Congress and the military need to address.’

‘Junior enlisted pay has not kept up with the needs, and military housing needs to be improved, for example,’ Bacon added.

Montana GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke, a former SEAL instructor and commander at SEAL Team 6, also spoke with Fox about the recruitment issues faced by the nation, saying, ‘There’s a gap in what the Pentagon is saying and, I think, what’s happening on the ground.’

Zinke said there are a ‘number of reasons’ in which the Pentagon pushes blame for the recruitment problems, pointing to ‘obesity’ and the dwindling number of students graduating from high school who are ‘physically qualified and can pass the test.’

To a degree, Zinke said, the claims of obesity and lack of physical preparedness being causes of recruitment struggles are true, but that there’s also a ‘perception that the services are emphasizing diversity [and] inclusion within the force.’

‘They’re not only accepting it, they’re emphasizing it,’ he said, further describing the ‘woke movement’ of the military.

Zinke said that President Biden’s fumbling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, dealt a ‘large blow’ to the service and that it impacted those who served ‘because it was embarrassing.’

‘Yes, military service is not as desirable, but there’s a reason why,’ he continued. ‘It’s not because we don’t love America. We do. We’re just not comfortable with this administration.’

‘Rather than address the problem of what the military is, they’re gonna lower the bar,’ Zinke said in regard to the administration’s outlook on recruitment efforts. ‘[Lowering] the bar in most locations puts the force further at risk, and we won’t be as capable as force.’

The Army recently expanded a pre-basic training course that allows candidates to enlist who do not meet the weight and aptitude requirements, in an effort to fight a recruiting crisis plaguing every branch of the military.

In a statement, the White House defended Biden’s foreign policy achievements and said the Chinese spying incidents of recent weeks showed that the president ‘will never hesitate to take action to defend our country.’

‘Under President Biden’s leadership, we’ve restored America’s place on the world stage, revitalized our alliances that the previous administration had disrespected, and NATO has never been stronger. He has rallied the world to stand up to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and strengthened our position in the Indo-Pacific amid competition with China,’ a White House spokesperson said. 

‘President Biden secured record funding to strengthen our military and boost research and development of the advanced capabilities we need to address challenges posed by Russia and China. And he has shown we will never hesitate to take action to defend our country — whether that’s taking out the leaders of Al Qaeda and ISIS or protecting American sovereignty when our airspace was violated this past week,’ the spokesperson said.

Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom and Michael Lee contributed to this article. This story has been updated to include the response from the White House.

Kyle Morris covers politics for Fox News. Story tips can be sent to kyle.morris@fox.com and on Twitter: @RealKyleMorris.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Pentagon says it does not support drag shows on military installations: ‘longstanding policy’
  • House Judiciary Committee sues FBI agent for defying subpoena in government, Big Tech collusion probe
  • Republicans turn up the heat on State Department for not inviting Taiwan to upcoming Asia summit
  • Israel threatens direct attack against Iran if Tehran launches strike ‘from its territory’
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
VP Kamala Harris touts successes as ‘border czar’ as she returns to immigration beat with overseas investments
next post
MONEY TALKS: Rumored presidential hopefuls with the most cash in the bank

You may also like

Blinken says Gaza cease-fire is ‘imperative’ after killing of Hamas...

July 31, 2024

Senate Minority Whip John Thune to endorse Tim Scott for...

May 22, 2023

Trump confronted on golf course about no-showing Florida court appearance

August 11, 2023

Trump indictment: Eric, Donald Trump Jr blast ‘third-world prosecutorial misconduct’

March 31, 2023

Biden’s Twitter account fact-checked for dubious claim about the taxes...

March 20, 2023

Insiders predict this ‘powerhouse’ Republican would bring major boost as...

May 26, 2024

This Republican presidential candidate is ‘excited’ to be on the...

August 13, 2023

Rhode Island lawmakers approve bill to replace lead pipes across...

June 16, 2023

James Carville warns Democratic Party seeing ‘horrifying’ numbers showing loss...

April 2, 2024

Language and cultural inclusivity for chatbots ‘very important’ to OpenAI’s...

May 17, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout, pulls outlook

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025
    • The Unpredictable Stock Market: How to Make Sense of It

      May 8, 2025
    • AMD CEO calls China a ‘large opportunity’ and warns against strict U.S. chip controls

      May 7, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,632 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,339 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,320 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,302 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,186 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout,...

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Rep. Greg Steube says he’s cleared...

    March 16, 2023

    Sen. Kennedy surprises Mayorkas by interrupting...

    March 30, 2023

    Schumer breaks silence on Chinese spy...

    February 5, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here