Recent attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas were carried out by individuals with military backgrounds. The New Orleans attacker, an Army veteran, killed 14 people and injured at least 35 when he drove a truck into a New Year’s Eve party on Bourbon Street. He served from 2006 to 2015, including time in Afghanistan, and was killed in a gunfight with police. The Las Vegas bomber was an active-duty Green Beret. Both attackers left messages indicating political motives. These incidents highlight the issue of extremist activity among military personnel and veterans. Research shows that individuals with military backgrounds are highly likely to engage in violent extremism in the United States.
However, efforts to address this problem have stalled within the Pentagon. The Department has made little progress in combatting extremism or supporting veterans transitioning into civilian life. Concerns have grown about the link between military service and terrorist activities. The incoming administration under president-elect Donald Trump is not expected to prioritize addressing this issue. Experts fear that planned reforms will fail to materialize, and the problem will continue to worsen.
Michael Jensen, a researcher at the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), doubts that the reforms introduced in 2021 will be successful. He believes there is a risk of these efforts losing momentum or being abandoned altogether. The report also highlights the case of Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old Air National Guard member arrested for leaking classified documents online.
A new report from START reveals that the nexus between the military and extremist activity is growing. Approximately 15% of those charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6 had military ties. The report indicates a concerning trend of military personnel being involved in extremist incidents.
Experts emphasize that while instances of criminal acts by individuals with U.S. military backgrounds driven by political, economic, social, or religious motives are rare, the potential for extremism among active duty personnel and veterans is a concern. Despite the relatively low numbers of extremists within the military community compared to the overall population of service members, those with military experience are more likely to engage in mass violence and have a higher fatality rate in attacks. The specialized training received in the military equips individuals with lethal skills, increasing the severity of potential outcomes when those skills are utilized for nefarious purposes. Military service emerges as a strong predictor for involvement in mass-casualty incidents, surpassing other factors such as mental health issues or specific ideological affiliations.
Efforts to address extremism within the military have been met with challenges, with recent reforms to identify and prevent radicalization among service members facing setbacks. Despite initiatives launched by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to combat extremism within the ranks following the events of January 6th, progress has been limited, with only a fraction of proposed recommendations being implemented. The urgency to tackle extremism within the military remains critical, underscoring the need for continued reforms to encourage service members to report concerns and seek support in combating radicalization.
Garrison, Jensen, and other experts have acknowledged that some progress has been made in addressing extremism within the military. In late 2023, the Pentagon released a study commissioned to assess the extent of the issue among troops. However, an analysis by the Associated Press in the previous year revealed that the study relied on outdated and flawed data for its conclusions.
Last summer, the Army, Navy, and Marines introduced strict new definitions of extremist activity. Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, who has testified before Congress on this matter, highlighted that more work is needed.
Beirich expressed concerns, stating, “The problem is growing as the government is walking away from this issue, and that is concerning.” Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth visited Senators on Capitol Hill on December 5, 2024.
There are fears among several extremism experts in the military community that efforts to combat extremism may face setbacks or collapse entirely under the administration of Trump and Hegseth. The issue has become politicized, with the GOP-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee in 2022 calling for a cessation of the Pentagon’s counter-extremism programs. The National Defense Authorization Act in 2022, 2023, and 2024 all stripped funding for these efforts.
Republicans in Congress have argued that the focus on extremism within the military is exaggerated and diverts attention from the Pentagon’s primary objectives. Hegseth, Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, has dismissed concerns regarding extremists in the military.
Hegseth himself was removed from a security post during Biden’s 2021 inauguration due to concerns about his tattoos. In his book, “War on Warriors,” Hegseth downplayed the involvement of service members in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and criticized military leaders for focusing on rooting out extremism.
Experts on extremism, previously hopeful after efforts in 2021 led by Austin, now fear for the future of progress. Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, criticized the Department of Defense for not adequately addressing radicalization and extremism within the ranks, especially following recent events.
Huang stated, “The Department of Defense has not taken the necessary steps to address this connection and growing radicalization. These incidents last week reflect the need for urgent action by the Department of Defense and senior officials in the administration.”
The New Year attacks have refocused attention on the military’s approach to extremism. The path forward remains uncertain as concerns persist regarding the commitment to addressing extremism within the military hierarchy.
