Stefanik Challenges DOD Over ‘Woke’ Schools For Service Families

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has criticized the Department of Defense (DOD) for allowing the proliferation of “woke” materials in the Department of Defense’s Education Activity (DODEA) schools while failing to provide transparency on their investigation into racially divisive statements made by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) chief Kelisa Wing. 

The DODEA education system is one of two elementary and secondary school systems operated directly by the federal government. It provides K-12 education to families living on U.S. military bases in America and overseas. The system educates more than 66,000 children at 160 schools situated worldwide.

According to a new report, there has been a shocking 1200% increase in the number of Wing’s “woke” children’s books in DODEA schools since an earlier investigation into her racist and divisive statements. There are more than 600 copies of her radical writings available in at least 49 DODEA schools.

Stefanik expressed outrage over the administration’s passivity and demanded the federal government provide transparency regarding the education of the children of America’s service members. In addition, she demanded the release of findings of Kelisa Wing’s divisive and radical ideology that she is imposing on DoDEA schools. 

The New York Republican has introduced the Servicemember Parents Bill of Rights in the House. That measure is designed to reinforce that servicemembers with children in DODEA schools have the right to be directly involved in their children’s education and to enforce transparency and accountability from educators and administrators at all DODEA schools.

The DOD launched a review of Wing last September into reports of her history of disparaging white people. That review followed a request by Stefanik in a letter to Biden’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. It was endorsed by nearly two dozen members of Congress. Wing was reported to have openly disparaged white people in social media posts and a book series.

Wing, who has described herself in social media posts as “woke,” wrote derogatory comments about white people in social media posts and a book series. She also co-authored children’s books, including titles such as “What is White Privilege?,” “What Does It Mean to Defund the Police?,” and “What is Anti-Racism?,” all calling on white people to confess their privilege. 

Stefanik and Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) had previously demanded answers from the Pentagon regarding Wing’s “troubling statements,” leading to the DoD launching a review. However, despite their follow-up request, the two have not received an update on the review findings. 

Stefanik has accused Joe Biden’s Defense Department of allowing the “radical teachings” of the DEI chief to “proliferate in DODEA schools while failing to provide transparency on their investigation into her racially divisive statements.”