A Pentagon working group established to provide recommendations for rooting out extremism in the ranks is set to be defunded under the sweeping defense policy bill Congress is expected to pass this week.
The compromise National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which was released last week after months of negotiations between House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, would bar any funding from going to the Defense Department’s Countering Extremist Activity Working Group.
The working group released its recommendations in December 2021, and the Pentagon said at the time that the release marked the end of the group’s work, making it unclear what practical effect defunding the group will have. But lawmakers including the provision in their compromise bill signals they are ready to turn the page on what became a political lightning rod.
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Congress’ move to make sure the working group stays dead also comes as the Pentagon continues to struggle with extremists in the ranks. An inspector general report released earlier this month found that dozens of troops were suspected of advocating overthrowing the government over the past year.
A Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to Military.com’s request for comment on the NDAA provision or the exact status of the working group now.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin…
