Background on the Pentagon’s Recent Actions Against Diversity Content
On Friday, the Pentagon issued an order to identify and seize materials from military academy and war school libraries in the United States that contain information on topics such as diversity, anti-racism, and transgender individuals.
This move is part of the Department of Defense’s ongoing efforts to eliminate content and programs promoting diversity, which has led to the removal of several documents and images from their website and search results.
The Memo’s Instructions
“Educational materials that promote divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department’s primary mission,” explains a memorandum addressed to high-ranking Pentagon officials, military commanders, and other employees.
The document instructs officials to “promptly identify any Department library materials that may be potentially incompatible with this primary mission,” seize them for review, and determine their final disposition.
It also mentions that a committee of “experts, educators, and library professionals” compiled a list of search terms to identify materials for review.
The List of Search Terms
Attached to the memorandum is a list that includes terms such as affirmative action, active allyship, anti-racism, Critical Race Theory, diversity, equity and inclusion, gender nonconformity, gender transition, and transgender individuals, among others.
30-Day Deadline for Military Academies
In another memorandum issued on the same day, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth gave the secretaries of the US military departments 30 days to certify that the country’s military academies will not consider race, ethnicity, or sex for admission purposes.
They must “admit based solely on merit,” Hegseth wrote in the memorandum.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Pentagon’s reason for this action? The Pentagon claims that materials promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with their primary mission.
- Which topics are targeted by this order? The order targets materials containing information on diversity, anti-racism, and transgender individuals.
- What is the timeline for military academies to comply? Military academies have 30 days to certify that they will not consider race, ethnicity, or sex for admission purposes.
- What search terms were used to identify materials for review? The list of search terms includes affirmative action, active allyship, anti-racism, Critical Race Theory, diversity, equity and inclusion, gender nonconformity, gender transition, and transgender individuals.
Context and Impact
The Pentagon’s recent actions have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the suppression of diverse perspectives within military institutions. The move targets materials that promote discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as those addressing gender identity and racial issues.
Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, issued a memorandum directing military academies not to consider race, ethnicity, or sex in admissions. This decision aims to ensure that admission is based solely on merit, according to Hegseth.
A committee of experts, educators, and library professionals compiled a list of search terms to identify materials for review. This list includes terms such as affirmative action, active allyship, anti-racism, Critical Race Theory, diversity, equity and inclusion, gender nonconformity, gender transition, and transgender individuals. The Pentagon claims these topics are incompatible with their primary mission.
The controversy stems from the belief that these topics are essential for fostering an inclusive environment and addressing systemic issues within the military. Critics argue that eliminating such materials will hinder meaningful discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion, ultimately weakening the military’s ability to represent and understand the diverse population it serves.
