Pentagon Orders Removal of DEI Materials by May 21

The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a directive mandating the removal of all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) materials from U.S. military institutions by May 21, 2025, marking one of the most aggressive rollbacks of progressive social policies in modern Pentagon history. The order, signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, aligns with the Trump administration’s broader campaign to eliminate “divisive concepts” from federal agencies and refocus the military on “warfighting readiness over social engineering.” The move has sparked fierce backlash from Democratic lawmakers, advocacy groups, and military personnel, who warn it undermines troop cohesion and erases decades of efforts to address systemic inequities.

Directive Details: Scope and Implementation

1. Policy Language:

   • The May 10 memo orders the “identification and elimination of all materials promoting critical race theory (CRT), gender ideology, or equity-based policies” from military libraries, training programs, and educational curricula.

   • Materials flagged for removal include books, slideshows, posters, and online resources containing terms like “white privilege,” “systemic racism,” “gender identity,” “microaggressions,” or “LGBTQ+ inclusion.”

2. Affected Institutions:

   • Military Academies: West Point, the Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy must purge DEI-related coursework and guest lectures.

   • Base Libraries: Over 400 military libraries worldwide are scrubbing titles, including How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson.

   • Training Programs: Mandatory DEI seminars for recruits and officers—such as “Bias Awareness” and “Inclusive Leadership”—are canceled.

3. Enforcement Mechanism:

   • A DoD task force, led by Trump-appointee Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, will audit compliance. Institutions failing to meet the deadline risk losing accreditation or funding.

   • Service members are instructed to report “non-compliant materials” via a dedicated portal, raising concerns about surveillance and retaliation.

Political Context: The Administration’s Anti-DEI Campaign

The Pentagon order follows a series of executive actions targeting DEI initiatives:

• Executive Order 14182 (March 2025): Banned federal agencies from conducting DEI training or using “race-based preferences” in hiring.

• Defense Advisory Committee Purge: In April 2025, the DoD disbanded its Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, replacing it with a panel focused on “patriotic education.”

• Rhetorical Framing: Trump has repeatedly denounced DEI as a “toxic ideology” that “weakens our military by dividing troops based on race and gender.”

Rationale and Support

The Pentagon and Republican allies justify the policy as necessary to:

1. Restore Focus on Combat Readiness:

   • Secretary Hegseth claims DEI programs “distract from the military’s core mission” by emphasizing “identity politics over merit.”

   • Cites a 2024 Heritage Foundation report alleging DEI trainings reduced time spent on weapons drills by 15%.

2. Combat “Woke Indoctrination”:

   • Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) applauded the move, stating, “Our troops shouldn’t be forced to learn that America is inherently racist.”

   • The Center for Military Readiness, a conservative think tank, argues DEI undermines recruitment by alienating “patriotic, traditional Americans.”

3. Align with Recruitment Strategy:

   • The DoD plans to replace DEI with “Values-Based Recruitment” targeting rural, conservative demographics. A pilot program in Texas increased enlistment by 8% in Q1 2025.

Criticism and Consequences

1. Erasure of Marginalized Voices:

   • Over 200 books by Black, LGBTQ+, and female authors have already been removed, including The Autobiography of Malcolm X and On the Basis of Sex (RBG biography).

   • The NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the First Amendment and 1964 Civil Rights Act.

2. Troop Morale and Retention:

   • A survey by the Military Family Advisory Network found 34% of non-white service members feel “less safe” serving under the new policies.

   • Senior officers, including Gen. Charles Q. Brown (Air Force Chief of Staff), privately warned the order could worsen retention crises in specialized units like cyber command.

3. Global Perception:

   • NATO allies, including Canada and Germany, criticized the move as “out of step with modern armed forces.” A UK Defence Ministry memo advised limiting joint DEI programs with U.S. forces.

4. Historical Revisionism:

   • The directive requires edits to history courses, removing lessons on the 1948 desegregation of the military and the 2011 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Key Reactions

• Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ): “This is cultural arson. They’re burning decades of progress to appease a far-right base.”

• Elaine Luria (Former Navy Commander): “DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about ensuring the sailor next to you has your back, no matter their background.”

• Stephen Miller (Trump Advisor): “The military’s job is to kill enemies, not to promote drag queen story hours.”

What’s Next?

• Legal Battles: The ACLU plans to challenge the order under the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection clause.

• Grassroots Resistance: Military spouses and veterans are organizing “Underground Libraries” to distribute banned materials.

• 2024 Election Impact: Biden’s campaign released an ad titled “Backward March,” contrasting Trump’s policies with his own pledges to expand military diversity.