Springfield Standard

In a recent exchange, Senator Eric Schmitt confronted Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro about the effects of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training courses and COVID vaccine mandates on Navy recruitment. The senator also expressed his concern over the Navy's prioritization of climate change over maintaining parity with America's adversaries.

The Navy has struggled to meet its recruitment goals in recent years. It achieved less than 70% of its target for the first half of fiscal year 2024 and is projected to fall short by approximately 6,700 sailors from their annual goal of 40,600. The previous year's recruitment goal was set at 37,700, but the Navy fell short by 20%.

Last June, Secretary Del Toro hosted a Department of the Navy DEI Summit with senior Navy and Marine Corps leaders. "In order to maintain our strategic edge, the Navy and Marine Corps team must operationalize innovative and cohesive initiatives, rooted in DEI’s goals," Secretary Del Toro stated at the summit. The Navy’s DEI 101 online training facilitator guide emphasizes the need to foster a culture that "values diversity and emphasizes inclusion."

Despite these efforts, recent Department of Defense climate surveys report that only 2% of the workforce identifies racism as an issue within their ranks.

Adding to these challenges is the fact that in 2020, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of Communist China surpassed the U.S. Navy in size. Currently, more U.S. ships are being retired than built, resulting in a shrinking fleet while China's continues to expand.