Pentagon Chief Austin Rejects Trump Criticism Military Is ‘Woke’

Departing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spurns criticism from President-elect Donald Trump — and from Trump’s choice to replace him — that the American military has become too “woke,” and champions the value of diversity policies that the next administration wants to scrap.

“The United States of America has a military that reflects the United States of America — we are a diverse country, we will have a diverse military,” Austin, the first Black US defense secretary, said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

Austin added that it was important to ensure that every person in the military feels they’re a ...