Pentagon Orders Military Libraries to Review and Remove DEI-Related Books
Alex Brandon, Associated Press Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth waits for President Trump to speak to members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, April 29, 2025, in Harrison Township, Mich.
Pentagon orders military schools to pull diversity and gender-related books, deepening the Trump administration’s purge of DEI from federal institutions.
The Pentagon has directed military leaders to review and remove all library books related to diversity, anti-racism, or gender topics within the next two weeks, according to a memo issued Friday by acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel Timothy Dill.
This sweeping directive is the most expansive action yet under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s initiative to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and materials from the U.S. Armed Forces.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Naval Academy pulled nearly 400 DEI-related books from its shelves following an internal review. The Army’s West Point and the Air Force Academy are conducting similar evaluations of their libraries and curricula. But this new order goes further—requiring all military academic institutions, including war colleges and service academies, to identify and “sequester” any materials that may be seen as conflicting with the military’s core mission. The deadline for action is May 21.
In a separate memo, Hegseth also ordered military academies to admit students “based exclusively on merit,” emphasizing that race, ethnicity, and sex should not be considered in admissions decisions. “Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces,” he wrote.
However, exceptions remain for applicants with standout athletic talent, prior military service, or those who attended military preparatory schools. Candidates will still be ranked within nomination categories—such as those nominated by elected officials or who are children of service members—using “merit-based scores.”
These new policies are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to remove DEI initiatives from the federal government. Similar changes have affected Defense Department websites and social media pages. The campaign has drawn criticism for resulting in the temporary removal of tributes to historic military figures, including Jackie Robinson, the Navajo Code Talkers, and Maj. Gen. Charles C. Rogers, a Black Medal of Honor recipient. Officials have since acknowledged those removals were in error and have reinstated the content.
To carry out the book review directive, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee—made up of military educators, librarians, and other experts—will guide institutions in identifying materials for removal. The committee has issued a list of keywords to use in searches, including terms such as “anti-racism,” “critical race theory,” “gender identity,” and “white privilege.”
Not every flagged book will be removed. At the Naval Academy, nearly 900 books were reviewed and 381 were taken off the shelves. Removed titles included works on civil rights, Black soldiers in World War II, feminism, the Holocaust, and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
The committee is expected to release further guidance on how to evaluate and determine the final status of the reviewed materials in the coming weeks.
