WASHINGTON — The Defense Department is spending $21 million on what critics argue Biden seems to be the military’s most pressing issue — renaming bases that anger leftists.
In 90 days, the long-named Navy bases for Confederate generals will “immediately” begin swapping out more tasteful-to-wake-up crowd labels like “Fort Liberty”—in a move that The cost would exceed $21 million.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the military on Thursday to start renaming nine bases Elected for change by an independent commission after the Congress-mandated 90-day waiting period expired.
“I fully support the efforts and recommendations of the Naming Commission on this important matter, and I am committed to implementing all of the Commission’s recommendations as quickly as possible,” Austin said. under his instructions“For this, I direct the concerned DoD…heads to initiate a plan to immediately implement the recommendations of the Commission.
Army and Pentagon leaders begin to consider splitting the base of union-affiliated names in 2020 during nationwide racial riots After Minneapolis Police killed George FloydA black man was arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill.
Naming Commission in May new names announced As for the military bases affected – these are all in former Confederate states and were designated between the Jim Crow era of the South in the 1910s and 1940s. Congress had to first approve the names before Austin’s order could be implemented.
“The establishments and facilities operated by our department are more than important national security assets – they are also powerful public symbols of our military and, of course, the places where our service members and their families work and live,” the secretary said. Said in yourself.
“The names of these establishments and facilities should inspire all who call them home, fully reflecting the history and values of the United States.”
According to a May report by the commission, the $21 million would include “the renaming or removal of names, symbols, displays, monuments, or material that the Confederate States of America or any person who voluntarily associates with the Confederate States of America.” Serves”.
Per Austin’s order, the Army would begin the switch on December 18 and should be completed before January 1, 2023.
However, some of the commission’s recommended changes—such as changing the DoD’s “recall and naming procedures”—are not subject to the 90-day waiting period. Those issues must now be implemented “immediately” in accordance with Austin’s mandate.
Following are the grounds and their new names, as well as their estimated costs to build the switch.
— Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Liberty — $6,374,230
— Fort Polk, La., to Fort Johnson — $1,390,240
— Fort Benning, Ga., to Fort Moore — $4,928,574
— Fort Gordon, Ga., Fort Eisenhower — $580,000
— Fort AP Hill, VA, For Fort Walker — $1,982,227
— Fort Hood, Texas, to Fort Cavazos — $1,539,885
— Fort Pickett, Va., to Fort Barfoot — $322,900
— Fort Rucker, Ala., at Fort Novosell — $1,526,645
— Fort Lee, VA, Fort Gregg-Adams — $2,396,600
According to the commission, the naming commission spent eight months consulting Aadhaar communities and leaders, making over 34,000 submissions to the public through more than 3,670 different name suggestions.
“The Commission’s intensive and historically informed work has put the Department on track to meet Congress’s intention — and to remove from U.S. military facilities all names, symbols, displays, monuments and material that honor or commemorate the Union,” Austin said.
“The Commission has chosen names that resonate with honour, patriotism and history – names that will inspire generations of service members to defend our democracy and our Constitution,” he continued.