Space Force official fired after denouncing 'neo-Marxist agenda' in U.S. military

A U.S. Space Force officer who published a book saying that Neo-Marxism is influencing the military has been relieved of command due to remarks he made on a podcast.

"Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14, due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead," the Space Force said in a statement, according to the Washington Examiner. "This decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier in a recent podcast. Lt. Gen. Whiting has initiated a Command Directed Investigation (CDI) on whether these comments constituted prohibited partisan political activity."

He made the remarks while promoting a book on a podcast, where he decried leftist practices in U.S. institutions, including the  military.

Lohmeir's recently self-published book is titled "Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military." A description of the book calls it "a timely and bold contribution from an active-duty Space Force lieutenant colonel who sees the impact of a neo-Marxist agenda at the ground level within our armed forces." 

"My intent never has been to engage in partisan politics," Lohmeir informed Military.com. "I have written a book about a particular political ideology (Marxism) in the hope that our Defense Department might return to being politically non-partisan in the future as it has honorably done throughout history," he noted.

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida tweeted that the "demotion is clearly retaliatory" and said that he will pursue "action on this in the Armed Services Committee."