The Army and Air Force have ordered their libraries to review their collections for books related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and to remove any that promote DEI “in a manner that subverts meritocracy and unity.” This directive follows the removal of nearly 400 books from the U.S. Naval Academy library in response to a similar order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office.
The memos obtained by The Associated Press indicate that the removal of books will only occur after a closer review of the initial lists, reflecting a desire to be more cautious following the criticism faced by the Navy for some of the books it removed. Among the removed books were titles related to the Holocaust, feminism, civil rights, racism, and Maya Angelou’s autobiography.
The Army’s memo was sent to West Point, the Army War College, and other service departments, while the Air Force’s memo was directed at the Air Force Academy. Both services are ordered to provide lists of books promoting DEI, gender ideology, and critical race theory by specified deadlines. This effort is part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to purge DEI content from federal agencies.
The military academies were not originally included in President Trump’s executive order banning DEI instruction in K-12 schools, but Pentagon leaders later directed them to review and remove books related to DEI. The Air Force Academy and West Point have stated that they will comply with the directives in a professional manner. Hegseth’s campaign to remove DEI programs and content has faced backlash, leading the Pentagon to restore some posts that were removed.
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