In a recent government meeting, discussions centered around allegations made by President-elect Trump's nominee for defense secretary, who claimed he was sidelined due to being labeled an extremist. The nominee's assertion raised concerns about the vetting processes within the Army and National Guard, particularly regarding the removal of certain members during heightened security measures at the Capitol.

A representative from the Office of the Secretary of Defense acknowledged the nominee's claims and expressed a willingness to investigate further. However, they emphasized that the specifics of the nominee's record and the associated reports would need to be addressed by the respective military services. The representative noted that the Department of Defense had a centralized approach to the vetting process during the January 2021 events, indicating that it was not solely managed by the Army.

The conversation also touched on an ongoing review of extremism within the military, with the representative indicating that information regarding this review had previously been released and was available online. The meeting underscored the complexities surrounding the issue of extremism in the armed forces and the need for transparency in the vetting processes that affect service members.