Matthew Lohmeier speaks at a conservative event after his controversial appointment as Air Force undersecretary.
Lt Col Matthew Lohmeier, previously removed from his position for publicly criticizing what he called 'neo-Marxist' ideologies within the US armed forces, has now reappeared in a strong civilian role.
Asserted narrowly by the Senate in a 52–46 vote, Lohmeier is now the Air Force's second-highest-ranking civilian. All Republican senators voted for his appointment, with almost all Democrats voting against.
Lohmeier was removed from his position as commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron in 2021 for endorsing his self-published Irresistible Revolution when he appeared on a podcast.
The book asserted that Marxist principles were seeping into the military through critical race theory and diversity training. 'Un-American and divisive', Lohmeier had declared such policies at the time. He contended they disrupted military cohesion and generated identity-based divisions.
The Air Force promptly relieved him of duty, and even though an investigation was opened, it was canceled after Lohmeier resigned from the service later that year voluntarily. Even with the career blow, he rose to prominence among conservatives.
His book was a bestseller on Amazon's political nonfiction list, and he continued to give speeches at conferences sponsored by organizations such as The Heritage Foundation and Turning Point USA.
In January, it became clear to former President Donald Trump that the position held by Lohmeier was of political importance. On Truth Social, Trump stated, "Matthew will coordinate with the GREAT Secretary of Defence nominee Pete Hegseth to bring to an end the disastrous 'woke' policies which have decimated our Military. We will make our Country STRONG AGAIN."
Lohmeier's ascension is one piece of a broader Republican-led effort to deconstruct progressive ideologies within the leadership of the military.
As undersecretary, he now has chief responsibilities over Air Force and Space Force manpower management, budgeting, infrastructure, and overall administration, essentially running the branches' daily operations.
During his May 1 Senate confirmation hearing, Lohmeier was grilled by Democrats over whether his political views would influence his judgment as a judge. Senator Mazie Hirono asked him if he would recuse himself from hearing cases against former military comrades like Gen.
Stephen Whiting or Maj. Gen. Devin Pepper. Lohmeier refused to make a direct pledge, instead saying, "I will deal with all people fairly in accordance with the law." Hirono snapped back saying, "That is completely not reassuring."
Most Democrats are still worried that Lohmeier's loud past, especially the fact that he chose to make political complaints while wearing uniform, gives them cause for concern. They contend that his new role requires neutrality and caution, traits that they are afraid he won't maintain.
Though Republicans view his appointment as a much-needed correction, Democrats caution it risks undermining the long-standing tradition of keeping civilian defence jobs above politics. "This runs contrary to decades of tradition in maintaining civilian defence leadership as apolitical," said Sen. Jack Reed, Armed Services Committee chair.
To his fans, Lohmeier is not a renegade; he's a truth-teller who'll challenge institutional ideology. His position will likely mirror Trump's vision for the Pentagon closely, particularly if Trump is back in the White House in November.
With Pete Hegseth set to become the likely Defence Secretary, Lohmeier will be at the heart of a possible ideological transformation. What that implies for the future of the military is unclear.
