Many Americans work hard and pay their taxes each year. Naturally, taxpaying folks want to know their money is being put to good use, rather than wasted on frivolous matters.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. As a matter of fact, it’s actually not uncommon for taxpayers’ money to be wasted on pointless spending proposals and other affairs that actually aren’t in the nation’s best interests.
It is for precisely this reason that the United States Air Force is presently taking some heat. According to The Federalist, the Air Force is under fire for the extent it’s chosen to use taxpayer money on certain travel expenses.
Not a Good Situation
It’s been confirmed that the Air and Space Force was just given the all-clear to use American taxpayer dollars to foot travel expenses for service members seeking to attend Pride events.
As a retired Air Force officer I am humiliated by the state of the service.
No credible American and no actual Airmen would salute anything but the American flag. Celebrating a military member saluting a pride flag is not just embarrassing it is traitorous. The current senior…
— JW (@C130GuyBNA) June 7, 2023
According to a memo, members of the Air Force can attend the aforementioned events if they feel doing so will contribute to their own personal “professional competency.”
Likewise, the Air Force is more than happy to have taxpayer money foot the bill, rather than allowing each individual to cover their own travel expenses.
Public Outrage Ensues
Needless to say, many taxpayers aren’t pleased with their money being used to cover extracurricular events of this nature.
On social media, concerned citizens — including some veterans — have posted about the many reasons why they deem this particular use of taxpayer dollars to be problematic.
In a profession that gets as much respect and admiration as the US military, people should focus on their duties. Sexuality has no place in a military unit, and it could only distract from what’s important when it’s amplified like this. I would argue that celebrating one’s…
— David Hickerty (@hickerty_david) June 7, 2023
So far, there is no word that the Air Force plans to reconsider how it’s using taxpayer dollars, despite the widespread backlash coming its way.
It remains to be seen if other branches of our nation’s military also start using tax money in a similar fashion.
In the meantime, the military continues to struggle with recruitment rates and other serious matters that will impact the future.
