Pentagon orders military to pull library materials linked to diversity

Published: Friday, May 9, 2025 at 8:33 pm

Pentagon Orders Military Libraries to Purge Diversity-Related Materials

The Pentagon has issued a directive for military leaders to remove and review library materials related to diversity, anti-racism, and gender issues. This order, issued on Friday, is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to eliminate content perceived as promoting "divisive concepts" and "gender ideology" from federal agencies.

Military leaders have been given two weeks, until May 21st, to identify and "sequester" any library materials at their educational institutions that are deemed "potentially incompatible" with the military's core mission. A temporary panel, the Academic Libraries Committee, will provide guidance on the review process.

The order includes a list of search terms to help identify the materials requiring review. These terms include "affirmative action," "allyship," "anti-racism," "critical race theory," "discrimination," "diversity in the workplace," "gender identity," "transgender people," and "white privilege," among others. The Pentagon emphasizes that these terms are solely for preliminary identification and sequestration, not a final judgment.

This directive follows similar actions at other military institutions. For example, the Naval Academy recently removed hundreds of books on topics like the Holocaust, feminism, civil rights, and racism. The Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, stated that the Department's instructional materials should be mission-focused. The ultimate disposition of the materials will be determined after the review process.

BNN's Perspective: This order raises complex questions. While ensuring military training remains focused on core competencies is important, the broad scope of the search terms and the removal of materials on topics like civil rights and gender identity could be seen as a chilling effect on intellectual freedom and the ability to understand diverse perspectives. Striking a balance between mission focus and fostering a well-rounded understanding of the world is crucial for a modern military.

Keywords: Pentagon, military, library materials, diversity, anti-racism, gender issues, Trump administration, divisive concepts, gender ideology, Academic Libraries Committee, affirmative action, allyship, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity in the workplace, gender identity, transgender people, white privilege, Naval Academy, censorship, intellectual freedom, military training, education.

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