House hearing on Army"s pro-life group terrorism training slides

House Republicans are set to question Army officials regarding a controversial training presentation that labeled pro-life organizations as terrorist groups. This hearing, scheduled for Thursday, will feature testimony from key Army personnel, including Agnes Schaefer and Lt. Gen. Patrick Matlock. The Army acknowledged that the training slides, which were used to instruct over 9,000 soldiers at Fort Liberty from 2017 to 2024, inaccurately categorized groups like Right to Life and Operation Rescue as threats. Schaefer stated that the slides were inconsistent with the Army's antiterrorism policies and had not been properly reviewed by Fort Liberty leadership. She emphasized that the slides are no longer in use and that there is no evidence suggesting the creator intended to undermine Army policy. The training aimed to enhance terror awareness among soldiers responsible for security at the base. The Republican letter highlighted concerns that the slides implied pro-life group members could pose risks to military installations, even suggesting that pro-life symbols could indicate potential terrorism. Despite the controversy, the individual responsible for the slides remains employed at Fort Liberty, raising questions about accountability. The hearing aims to uncover how such a mischaracterization occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future. Recent policy revisions by the Army have prohibited service members from engaging with extremist content, reflecting a broader effort to address extremism within military ranks.