Blab Politics
Deputy Under Secretary Overbaughs Christian-Nationalist Posts Spark Pentagon Scrutiny
Justin Overbaugh was confirmed by the Senate in September 2025 after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth named him Deputy Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security. A retired Army colonel who spent a quarter‑century in intelligence work across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, Overbaugh now directs the defense intelligence and security agencies that shape U.S. national‑security policy.
Overbaugh’s service record includes leading the Tampa Recruiting Battalion and commanding intelligence missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Department of War’s profile lists his duties as “overseeing defense intelligence and security agencies and shaping policy to advance national security and military operations.”
Outside his official role, Overbaugh has been active on X, where he routinely posts images of an AK‑47 accompanied by the caption “Come and Take It” and the phrase “Weak men create hard times.” One tweet in which he replied to a child’s drawing of a soldier killing someone by asking whether the child was old enough to join the Army illustrates the tone of his online activity.
His posts also touch on immigration and far‑right politics. In February 2025, Overbaugh tweeted a statement about Germany that linked to the website of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, some factions of which have ties to neo‑Nazi movements. He has also expressed support for Tommy Robinson, the British anti‑Islam activist. Overbaugh’s X account repeatedly promotes the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a denomination founded by Idaho pastor Doug Wilson. He has shared links to sermons from Wilson’s church in Moscow, Idaho, and posted a quote from the Old Testament in response to a discussion of Texas’ new law requiring Bible stories in public schools.
Beyond his personal posts, Overbaugh has endorsed Stephen Wolfe, author of the 2022 book The Case for Christian Nationalism. Wolfe argues for a “civil magistrate” that would regulate religious expression. In a recent announcement of a new training program called The Institute of Christian Politics, Wolfe said the project would prepare “gifted young men” for service in American institutions. Overbaugh replied to Wolfe’s tweet with a question about how he could help.
At the Pentagon, Overbaugh has concentrated on modernizing the National Background Investigation Services. In a February hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, he pledged to transform the agency from a “cumbersome bureaucracy” into an agile organization that could serve as a model for the rest of the government. The modernization effort includes expanding a program that allows agencies to onboard employees with an interim clearance while a full investigation is pending.
When Mother Jones asked the Pentagon’s press office for comment on Overbaugh’s social‑media activity, Jacob Bliss, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, declined to answer the questions. Bliss described Overbaugh as a “qualified, patriotic professional” and said the department was “proud to have him as a political appointee.” In June, the Pentagon also declined to comment on a report that the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering had posted references to the QAnon conspiracy theory. The department had previously refused to respond to a request for comment on the hiring of deputy press secretary Kingsley Wilson, who has expressed extremist beliefs, including support for the AfD.
Secretary Hegseth, who appointed Overbaugh, has ties to the Christian nationalist movement. Hegseth attends a church in the CREC denomination and invited pastor Doug Wilson to preach at the Pentagon earlier in 2025. Hegseth’s appointment and the presence of officials with similar ideological leanings have drawn attention from observers concerned about the influence of Christian nationalism within the Department of War.
The Department of War has not issued a formal statement regarding Overbaugh’s social‑media posts. The next steps for the Pentagon include the ongoing modernization of the background investigation program and the implementation of the interim clearance policy. No congressional actions or legal proceedings have been announced in connection with Overbaugh’s online activity. The situation remains under observation by lawmakers and policy analysts.
Overbaugh’s service record includes leading the Tampa Recruiting Battalion and commanding intelligence missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Department of War’s profile lists his duties as “overseeing defense intelligence and security agencies and shaping policy to advance national security and military operations.”
Outside his official role, Overbaugh has been active on X, where he routinely posts images of an AK‑47 accompanied by the caption “Come and Take It” and the phrase “Weak men create hard times.” One tweet in which he replied to a child’s drawing of a soldier killing someone by asking whether the child was old enough to join the Army illustrates the tone of his online activity.
His posts also touch on immigration and far‑right politics. In February 2025, Overbaugh tweeted a statement about Germany that linked to the website of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, some factions of which have ties to neo‑Nazi movements. He has also expressed support for Tommy Robinson, the British anti‑Islam activist. Overbaugh’s X account repeatedly promotes the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a denomination founded by Idaho pastor Doug Wilson. He has shared links to sermons from Wilson’s church in Moscow, Idaho, and posted a quote from the Old Testament in response to a discussion of Texas’ new law requiring Bible stories in public schools.
Beyond his personal posts, Overbaugh has endorsed Stephen Wolfe, author of the 2022 book The Case for Christian Nationalism. Wolfe argues for a “civil magistrate” that would regulate religious expression. In a recent announcement of a new training program called The Institute of Christian Politics, Wolfe said the project would prepare “gifted young men” for service in American institutions. Overbaugh replied to Wolfe’s tweet with a question about how he could help.
At the Pentagon, Overbaugh has concentrated on modernizing the National Background Investigation Services. In a February hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, he pledged to transform the agency from a “cumbersome bureaucracy” into an agile organization that could serve as a model for the rest of the government. The modernization effort includes expanding a program that allows agencies to onboard employees with an interim clearance while a full investigation is pending.
When Mother Jones asked the Pentagon’s press office for comment on Overbaugh’s social‑media activity, Jacob Bliss, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, declined to answer the questions. Bliss described Overbaugh as a “qualified, patriotic professional” and said the department was “proud to have him as a political appointee.” In June, the Pentagon also declined to comment on a report that the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering had posted references to the QAnon conspiracy theory. The department had previously refused to respond to a request for comment on the hiring of deputy press secretary Kingsley Wilson, who has expressed extremist beliefs, including support for the AfD.
Secretary Hegseth, who appointed Overbaugh, has ties to the Christian nationalist movement. Hegseth attends a church in the CREC denomination and invited pastor Doug Wilson to preach at the Pentagon earlier in 2025. Hegseth’s appointment and the presence of officials with similar ideological leanings have drawn attention from observers concerned about the influence of Christian nationalism within the Department of War.
The Department of War has not issued a formal statement regarding Overbaugh’s social‑media posts. The next steps for the Pentagon include the ongoing modernization of the background investigation program and the implementation of the interim clearance policy. No congressional actions or legal proceedings have been announced in connection with Overbaugh’s online activity. The situation remains under observation by lawmakers and policy analysts.
