By suzanne downing 
The assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 has triggered a forceful response inside the Department of War, after reports surfaced that some US military personnel and civilian employees publicly mocked or celebrated the killing online.
Kirk’s death, an act of domestic terrorism, drew condemnation from conservatives. But the discovery of social media posts from within the ranks of the armed forces set off a backlash, particularly among conservatives online, who amplified screenshots of the posts and pressed Pentagon leaders for disciplinary action.
Pete Hegseth, confirmed in January as the 29th Secretary of Defense who has vowed to restore military culture in the armed forces, vowed that such behavior would not be tolerated.
On Sept. 11, one day after Kirk’s assassination, Hegseth posted on X: “We are tracking all these very closely — and will address, immediately. Completely unacceptable.”
His chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, reinforced that message, stating: “It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American. The Department of War has zero tolerance for it.”
The Trump administration earlier this year rebranded the Department of Defense as the “Department of War,” in line with Hegseth’s focus on combat readiness and force discipline.
Hegseth directed his staff to scour social media platforms for any posts by service members or DoW employees that justified or belittled Kirk’s death. Such behavior, officials said, is inconsistent with military oaths to defend the Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic.
By Sept. 22, at least eight US service members had been suspended or placed under investigation for their online activity related to the assassination. Dozens more cases remain under review across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
Service secretaries issued parallel warnings, pledging “swift and decisive” consequences for those found to have violated conduct standards.
Suzanne Downing
Sh_tcan them if they are officers. Discipline the ranks depending on severity of comment.
Let’s go back to the armed forces being apolitical and refraining from public comment.
he should include elected lawmakers and staffers too
They too as the armed forces represent states and the nation
Putting the nation at risk
It’s about time – we must create a cohesive, loyal, dedicated, fighting force.