Pentagon establishes working group to counter extremism in the ranks

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has established a working group to further study the scope of the problem of extremism in the ranks and outlined immediate actions in a memo he issued Friday.

The new directive calls for immediate actions like updating screening questionnaires and reviewing the definition of prohibited extremist behavior. The Countering Extremist Working Group will look at longer-term efforts like reviewing the Uniformed Code of Military Justice and better facilitating the sharing of information between law enforcement and the military.  In the wake of the assault on the Capitol in January, the Pentagon has made countering extremism one of its top priorities. CBS News has reported at least 37 current or former military members have been arrested in relation to the attack on the Capitol on January 6.