*Books about the Holocaust, civil rights, feminism, racism, and Maya Angelou‘s famous autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” were recently removed from the U.S. Naval Academy’s library.
This action came after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office ordered the removal of any content promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
A Widening DEI Crackdown
The Navy released a list on Friday of 381 books removed from the Nimitz Library in Annapolis, Maryland. This decision is part of the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate DEI content from federal agencies.
These efforts include changes to policies, social media posts, online content, school curriculums, and now, college libraries, the AP is reporting.
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What Was Taken Off the Shelves?
Some of the books removed include:
- “Memorializing the Holocaust”
- “Half American,” about Black Americans in World War II
- “A Respectable Woman,” about the roles of Black women in the 1800s
- “Pursuing Trayvon Martin,” about the 2012 shooting that sparked national outcry
Books about gender identity, sexuality, and transgender topics were also targeted, along with historical books on racism, the Ku Klux Klan, and gender issues in art and literature.
Navy Says It Followed Orders
According to Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a Navy spokesman, the review process started with keyword searches in the library catalog.
“Departmental officials then closely examined the preliminary list to determine which books required removal,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins. “Nearly 400 books were removed from Nimitz Library to comply with directives outlined in Executive Orders issued by the President.”
The Navy said about 900 books were first flagged, and nearly 400 were ultimately removed.
Timing Raises Questions
The removal happened just before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Naval Academy on Tuesday. Officials said the visit was already planned and not related to the book removal.
The Pentagon stated that military academies are “fully committed to executing and implementing President Trump’s Executive Orders.”
College Academies Join K-12 in DEI Purge
Initially, Trump’s January executive order focused only on K-12 schools receiving federal funds. Military academies, which are colleges, were not included at first.
But pressure grew when media reports revealed the Naval Academy had not yet removed DEI-related books. Officials were then told to review the content quickly.
It’s unclear whether the final order came directly from Hegseth or a member of his staff.
Other Academies Also Reviewed
West Point and the Air Force Academy had already reviewed their curriculums. West Point said it is ready to examine library materials if the Army orders it.
The Air Force Academy said it regularly reviews content to make sure it follows Defense Department rules.
Last week, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind of the Air Force Academy told Congress the school was still reviewing its courses. He did not mention books.
Backlash and Questions
Hegseth has been pushing to remove all DEI content from the military, including on websites and social media. But this campaign has raised concerns.
Many lawmakers, local leaders, and citizens are questioning the removal of historic content and tributes to military heroes.
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