Statement From U.S. Dept. of Defense on “Reviewing the Department’s Military Educational Institution Library Collections”

Update: US Military Ordered to Pull Books on Diversity, Gender Issues (via Reuters)

The Pentagon ordered military educational institutions to pull and review any books that promote what it called “divisive concepts and gender ideology” on Friday, in the latest move from President Donald Trump’s administration against diversity, equity and inclusion.

Read the Complete Article

—–End Update—-

From the U.S. Department of Defense:

Today, the Department issued guidance to senior leaders directing the review of library materials at our military educational institutions to identify library materials that may conflict with our core mission. The Department’s instructional materials should be mission-focused and not promote divisive concepts and gender ideology.

Military educational institutions, such as War Colleges and Military Service Academies, will preliminarily identify this content no later than May 21, 2025, then conduct a deliberate review to determine the final disposition of that content. A temporary Academic Libraries Committee consisting of knowledgeable leaders, educators, and library professionals across the Department will assist throughout that process. A preliminary review using Committee-developed criteria will identify materials requiring further evaluation. Throughout the process, all reviews will use a “viewpoint-neutral” approach, using definitions laid out in Executive Order 14168, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” and Executive Order 13950, “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping.”

The Secretary has been clear: We are building a colorblind, merit-based culture that promotes and rewards individual initiative, excellence, and hard work.

Direct to Memo: Reviewing the Department’s Military Educational Institution Library Collections
6 pages; PDF.

Statement

• PEN America: Pentagon Review of Military Libraries Poses Grave Threat to Intellectual Freedom

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