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Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to carefully consider their vote on the nomination of Mr. Matthew Lohmeier to be Under Secretary of the Air Force.

The Under Secretary is the second highest ranking official in the Air Force. This position is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the Department and assisting the Secretary in leading the largest fleet of aircraft and space assets in the world. Most importantly, they are responsible for managing the hundreds of thousands of men and women who make up the Air Force and the Space Force.

I have deep concerns about Mr. Lohmeier's fitness to represent these men and women. While I appreciate his past military service, his record of troubling conduct in uniform, extreme partisanship, and animosity toward military members with whom he disagrees politically is, in my view, completely disqualifying to be Under Secretary.

His record of alarming behavior and statements is well-documented. In 2021, while serving as an Active-Duty Space Force officer in command of a large formation, he self-published a book titled: ``Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military.'' The book argued that Marxism is rampant within the ranks and leading to the collapse of our military and our society.

As he wrote:

To be perfectly clear, the path we are on as a country leads us to fratricidal and genocidal warfare.

While still on Active Duty and command, he went on a far-right podcast which was known for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories to advertise his book. All this was done without the knowledge or approval of the Department of Defense. Mr. Lohmeier was immediately relieved of command when his book and podcast were discovered.

After leaving the Space Force, he has continued to write and speak about his extreme beliefs. Among his controversial statements, Mr. Lohmeier called the January 6 attack a government-led ``false flag and hoax at the Capitol.''

I would ask all of my colleagues who were there that day and who were in danger if it were a hoax and a false flag operation. I think, honestly, they would admit, no, it was an attack on the constitutional responsibilities of Congress to certify the election of the President of the United States. In that hoax, police officers were injured and killed, and many, many of us were terribly concerned about our safety and the safety of our staffs.

So, if you believe it was a hoax, then you agree with Mr. Lohmeier. If you think it was and is an attack on our Constitution and on ourselves, this is not the gentleman to be the Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force.

He has appeared on dozens of podcasts and has made hundreds of social media posts about his distrust of American servicemembers, as he wrote in his book:

In one respect, U.S. military servicemembers are no different than members of the People's Liberation Army.

That is an interesting comparison--equating American soldiers with the members of the People's Liberation Army.

He went on to say:

Each is comprised of humans--

U.S. Army, PLA-- humans who share a common nature. Because we share the same nature, what Marxist ideology does to the Chinese military servicemember it will do to the American.

Now, that is absolutely absurd. I don't think anyone in the United States or in the U.S. military will believe that our military will be transformed into a Marxist fighting organization equivalent to the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Yet that is what he is talking about, and I have read a great deal of his writing.

I had the opportunity and the privilege not only to attend West Point but to teach at West Point. I would question his understanding of Marxism and his understanding, frankly, of the character of the American soldier, sailor, airman, marine, and guardian. It is profoundly not only deficient but insulting.

Let me make one point clear: I am concerned that he has a deeply misguided and biased opinion of American military servicemembers and their leaders. If confirmed, he would lead an organization that, like this country, represents a spectrum of individuals--Republicans, Democrats, Independents--of all races and creeds and sexualities. Yet his language suggests that he regards many of these men and women as adversaries to be rooted out and purged from the force. I am very skeptical that servicemembers and civilians who do not share his political opinions can trust that they will not be targeted under Mr. Lohmeier's tenure. This could be a revenge tour in the Department of the Air Force--to get even with those he feels did not treat him fairly. That is not the type of individual you want in the position of Under Secretary of the Air Force.

During his confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee, my colleagues and I pressed him to explain his extreme positions. In particular, I urged him to pledge to not seek retribution against any military members or civilians whom he has publicly criticized in the past, especially as many of them would serve under him if he is confirmed. He refused. He refused to make such a commitment. That failure significantly increases my concerns that he will be out to purge, to seek revenge; not to serve the interests of the U.S. Air Force and the United States of America but to work his own personal animosities out against those he distrusts.

Ultimately, the Under Secretary of the Air Force is a position that demands wisdom, composure, and character. Our military personnel and, indeed, the American people deserve nothing less. I do not believe that Mr. Lohmeier is qualified for this position, and I urge my colleagues to vote against the nominee.

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