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WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping move signaling a major shift in military educational policy, the Pentagon has directed all branches of the armed forces to review and pull from circulation any library books dealing with topics such as diversity, anti-racism, and gender identity by May 21.

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The directive, issued Friday in a memo obtained by the Associated Press, is part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s broader campaign to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the Department of Defense. The order marks the most extensive and specific step yet in what critics are calling a political effort to sanitize military education.

The memo, signed by Timothy Dill who is currently acting as the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel states that educational materials “promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department’s core mission.” All relevant materials must be “promptly identified” and sequestered by the May deadline.

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It remains unclear what will happen to the flagged books after they are removed. The memo notes that further guidance will be issued to determine which books are permanently banned and what their final “disposition” will be—whether stored, reassigned, or potentially destroyed.

The review effort is being guided by a temporary Pentagon body known as the Academic Libraries Committee, which has provided a list of keywords to help military commands identify the materials for removal. Those keywords include:

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• Affirmative action
• Anti-racism
• Critical race theory
• Discrimination
• Diversity
• Gender dysphoria
• Gender identity and transition
• Transgender
• Transsexual
• White privilege

This latest directive follows similar recent efforts to remove DEI-related materials from service academy libraries, a move that has sparked concern among education advocates, veterans, and civil rights organizations.

While the Pentagon has yet to comment on the potential consequences of this review, the order’s scope and language make it clear: the military is undergoing a significant ideological shift, one that will likely have long-term implications for how service members are educated and trained on matters of race, identity, and inclusion.

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