Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican from Texas, has publicly criticized Army officials, claiming they are politically targeting him after his Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) was rescinded last year. Nehls, who served 21 years in the Army Reserve and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, has requested an investigation into the revocation of his award by the Army Human Resources Command.
The controversy began when CBS News reported that the Army had withdrawn Nehls’ CIB in 2023 following a review which concluded he did not meet the eligibility criteria for the badge. The investigation highlighted that Nehls was serving as a civil affairs officer, rather than an infantryman, with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in 2008 when he received the badge.
Despite the revocation, Nehls has continued to wear the CIB lapel pin during his activities on Capitol Hill and at campaign events, attracting media attention and criticism. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Nehls defended his right to the badge, stating, “I further believe this is a concerted effort to discredit my military service and continued service to the American people as a member of Congress.” He urged the Army to correct his military records and restore the award.
Nehls has not made any public comments regarding the letter or the controversy surrounding the badge. However, in a recent interview with NOTUS, he claimed his service records incorrectly reflect his role and implied that the actions taken against him were due to his political identity, referring to himself as “Mr. MAGA guy.”
This year, the Office of Congressional Ethics also began investigating Nehls for allegedly misusing campaign funds for personal purposes, a separate issue from the badge controversy.
Additionally, discrepancies have been noted between Nehls’ claims and his official military records. While his congressional website states he received two Bronze Star medals, CBS News reported that only one is documented in his official records. Nehls retired from the military with the rank of major in 2009.
