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Business Standard
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Pentagon orders removal of books on diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programmes, policies and instructional materials AP Washington The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programmes, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was signed Friday by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the defence undersecretary for personnel. Educational materials at the libraries promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission, the memo states, adding that department leaders must promptly identify books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. By then, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and determine an appropriate ultimate disposition for those materials. It does not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. According to the memo, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department will provide information on the review and decisions about the books. That panel provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. The search terms include: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege. Early last month the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. About two weeks later, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find books related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Naval Academy's purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," based on the list of 381 books that have been taken out of its library. In addition to Angelou's award-winning book, the list includes Memorializing the Holocaust, which deals with Holocaust memorials; Half American, about African Americans in World War II; A Respectable Woman, about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and Pursuing Trayvon Martin, about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old boy in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling.
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pentagon Issues New Sweeping Order Amid Trump Admin Crackdown on DEI
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Pentagon has issued its most sweeping directive yet in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's ongoing campaign to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from the U.S. military. In a memo distributed Friday and obtained by the Associated Press, military leaders and commands were ordered to review and pull all library books related to diversity, anti-racism, and gender issues by May 21. The directive characterizes such materials as "promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology," which it says are incompatible with the Department of Defense's core mission. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth looks on. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth looks on. Associated Press The memo, signed by Timothy Dill, the acting undersecretary for personnel, follows recent book removals from military academies and significantly broadens the effort. It directs all commands to promptly identify and sequester materials that fall under a sweeping list of flagged topics, including affirmative action, critical race theory, gender identity, and white privilege. A temporary Academic Libraries Committee will oversee the process and has already provided a list of search terms to guide the initial identification. While the memo states that further guidance will follow by May 21, it does not clarify the final disposition of the removed books, leaving unanswered whether they will be stored or destroyed. The Pentagon's move comes on the heels of a purge last month at the U.S. Naval Academy, where nearly 400 books were pulled from its library. Titles removed included Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Memorializing the Holocaust, Half American (on Black soldiers in WWII), A Respectable Woman (about African American women's public roles in the 19th century), and Pursuing Trayvon Martin, which explores racial profiling and the 2012 shooting that sparked national protest. Similar efforts to filter library content have since expanded to the Army and Air Force academies. In a separate memo also issued Friday, Hegseth directed military academies to strictly enforce merit-based admissions, explicitly prohibiting consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex. He emphasized the word "no" in the directive, while permitting exceptions for candidates with exceptional athletic talent, prior military service, or those from preparatory programs. Service secretaries are required to certify compliance within 30 days, and admissions offices must rank students by "merit-based scores" within nomination categories such as children of service members or nominees from members of Congress. The dual memos mark a dramatic reshaping of educational and admissions standards within the military, reflecting Hegseth's stated goal to root out what he views as ideological influence from the armed forces' academic and recruitment processes. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
By LOLITA C. BALDOR The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was signed Friday by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the defense undersecretary for personnel. Educational materials at the libraries 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission,' the memo states, adding that department leaders must 'promptly identify' books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. By then, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and 'determine an appropriate ultimate disposition' for those materials. It does not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. According to the memo, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department will provide information on the review and decisions about the books. That panel provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. The search terms include: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege. Early last month the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. About two weeks later, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find books related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Naval Academy's purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," based on the list of 381 books that have been taken out of its library. In addition to Angelou's award-winning book, the list includes 'Memorializing the Holocaust,' which deals with Holocaust memorials; 'Half American,' about African Americans in World War II; 'A Respectable Woman,' about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and 'Pursuing Trayvon Martin,' about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old boy in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was signed Friday by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the defense undersecretary for personnel. Educational materials at the libraries 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission,' the memo states, adding that department leaders must 'promptly identify' books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. By then, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and 'determine an appropriate ultimate disposition' for those materials. It does not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. According to the memo, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department will provide information on the review and decisions about the books. That panel provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. The search terms include: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege. Early last month the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. About two weeks later, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find books related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Naval Academy's purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," based on the list of 381 books that have been taken out of its library. In addition to Angelou's award-winning book, the list includes 'Memorializing the Holocaust,' which deals with Holocaust memorials; 'Half American,' about African Americans in World War II; 'A Respectable Woman,' about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and 'Pursuing Trayvon Martin,' about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old boy in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling.
Boston Globe
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
Educational materials at the libraries 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission,' the memo states, adding that department leaders must 'promptly identify' books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up By then, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and 'determine an appropriate ultimate disposition' for those materials. It does not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. Advertisement According to the memo, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department will provide information on the review and decisions about the books. That panel provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. The search terms include: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege. Advertisement Early last month the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. About two weeks later, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find books related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Naval Academy's purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,' based on the list of 381 books that have been taken out of its library. In addition to Angelou's award-winning book, the list includes 'Memorializing the Holocaust,' which deals with Holocaust memorials; 'Half American,' about African Americans in World War II; 'A Respectable Woman,' about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and 'Pursuing Trayvon Martin,' about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old boy in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling.
