The Pentagon has ordered U.S. military educational institutions to remove and review all materials promoting "divisive concepts" and "gender ideology," in a sweeping policy shift under President Donald Trump's administration. The directive, issued Friday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marks a broader rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the Department of Defense.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host appointed earlier this year, has already dismantled multiple DEI initiatives, canceled commemorations like Black History Month, and removed books such as Maya Angelou’s memoir from military academies. The new policy mandates that materials promoting themes like anti-racism, white privilege, and gender identity be identified, sequestered, and potentially discarded after a formal review.
A temporary review committee—comprised of military leaders, educators, and library professionals—will assess the materials based on flagged keywords including "DEI," "anti-racism," and "white privilege." According to the Pentagon memo, such content is considered incompatible with the military’s "core mission."
The move aligns with broader conservative criticism of DEI programs, which they argue prioritize identity over merit. Supporters of DEI, including civil rights advocates and many Democrats, maintain these initiatives are essential for addressing systemic inequality and improving representation within the armed forces.
In a February address to Pentagon staff, Hegseth criticized past efforts to promote diversity, stating, “The single dumbest phrase in military history is ‘our diversity is our strength.’” The statement underscores the administration’s pivot away from inclusive messaging that characterized prior military policy.
This latest action reflects the Trump administration’s broader cultural agenda and is likely to deepen divisions over the role of race and gender in public institutions, including the armed forces.