Congressional Republicans are questioning the Defense Department's decision to allow active-duty troops to wear their military uniforms while marching in San Diego's gay pride parade this past weekend.
Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Tuesday asking him to explain why a waiver was made to a department directive that allowed service members in uniform to participate in a political activity. Inhofe said department policy prohibits such participation.
Separately, Rep. J. Randy Forbes of Virginia condemned the waiver and called on the Pentagon to end "these dangerous exceptions to policy for political purposes."
Last Saturday, dozens of soldiers, sailors and Marines in uniform marched in the parade. They were joined by dozens more military personnel in civilian clothes.
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