DOD getting sued for failing to provide promotion demographic data
The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) submitted a Freedom of Information Act request. The FOIA, filed with the Department of Defense, requested promotion and nomination breakdowns by race and gender. CASA wanted five years worth of information, with the view towards seeing if diversity, equity and inclusion played a role on who “got the nod.”
From Fox News:
A watchdog group is suing the Department of Defense (DOD) after it failed to hand over demographics data on who is receiving promotions in the military.
The group, which says it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in March that has gone ignored, is looking for breakdowns by race and gender of military promotions and nominations over the past five years, suspecting that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices might be at play.
They’ve also asked for all communications related to these practices between key DOD officials.
The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) seeks to analyze whether DEI practices are being implemented transparently and without compromising merit.
The group said the DOD acknowledged receipt of the FOIA but has not communicated whether it plans to hand over any documents or give a reason for withholding them.
“The increased role diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have played in the military is concerning to many Americans. The American people believe that promotions in the military should be based on merit,” said CASA Director James Fitzpatrick.
“Responsive records from this request will show the demographic breakdown of military promotions over the last five years. We know that the DOD has this information readily available and [we] are curious why they are so reluctant to share it with us, which the law requires. This lawsuit will force them to.”
Additional Reading:
Phillips, M. (2024, September 26). Watchdog sues Pentagon for withholding promotion data they believe will show DEI at play. Fox News. Link.
Category: Military issues
