The U.S. Army is facing intense scrutiny after it was revealed that training slides used at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, incorrectly labeled pro-life groups as terrorist organizations. These slides, used to educate 9,100 soldiers between 2017 and 2024, sparked outrage and prompted calls for accountability.
The revelation came to light after a letter from House Republicans, led by Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers and Subcommittee Chairman Jim Banks, demanded information about the slides. The Army subsequently admitted that the slides “inaccurately referenced” pro-life groups like Right to Life and Operation Rescue, along with several animal rights and environmental groups, as “terrorist organizations.”
In response to the uproar, the Army has confirmed that the slides are no longer in use and are inconsistent with their antiterrorism policy. They’ve also stated that there’s no evidence suggesting the individual who created the slides intentionally aimed to subvert Army policy or push a personal agenda.
However, House Republicans remain unsatisfied with the Army’s explanation. They argue that the slides clearly reflect a biased viewpoint and that there have been no consequences for the individual responsible for creating and distributing them. As a result, they have scheduled a hearing next week to delve deeper into the matter.
“It’s downright ridiculous to claim the slide deck doesn’t ‘further a personal viewpoint,’ but there have been no consequences for the employee who ran anti-life training sessions at Fort Liberty that clearly violated Army policy,” stated Congressman Jim Banks.
The hearing will feature testimony from Agnes Schaefer, the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and Reserve affairs, and Lt. Gen. Patrick Matlock, Army deputy chief of staff. The objective is to understand how this incident occurred and to ensure that it never happens again.
The Army has already taken steps to address extremism within its ranks, revising policies to prohibit service members from engaging with content promoting extremist ideologies. However, this latest incident highlights the need for stricter oversight and a renewed commitment to ensuring that all training materials reflect the Army’s core values and remain free from bias.
