The Pentagon has been instructed to purge content highlighting diversity efforts, following an executive order from former President Donald Trump that ended such programs across the federal government. In response, the Pentagon has constructed a comprehensive database of over 26,000 images flagged for removal across all military branches. The directive aims to remove content associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Pentagon faces a Wednesday deadline to eliminate all DEI-related content from its platforms.
The extensive database includes significant milestones achieved by women and minorities in the military. Among the notable entries are historical images of the Women Air Service Pilots from World War II and Col Jeannie Leavitt, the first female fighter pilot. The Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military pilots who served in segregated units during World War II, also feature prominently. While some photos of the Tuskegee Airmen might be protected due to their historical value, the purge has already impacted new recruit training courses within the air force, which briefly removed videos of these pioneering aviators.
The removal efforts target a wide array of content, with women and minorities being the most affected. The database also contains images of the first three women to graduate from the Marine Corps' infantry training battalion and Medal of Honor recipient Pfc Harold Gonsalves, who served in World War II. Additionally, some images have been flagged simply because their file name included the word "gay," affecting service members with that surname and even an image of the B-29 aircraft Enola Gay.
Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot expressed satisfaction with the department's swift adherence to the directive.
"We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms. In the rare cases that content is removed that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct components accordingly." – John Ullyot
The Pentagon's actions align with a broader effort to conform to federal archival laws as mandated by the Trump administration's stance against DEI initiatives. This initiative could potentially result in the deletion of up to 100,000 images or posts across various platforms, including social media and other websites, deemed related to DEI.
The decision has sparked widespread debate over its implications for historical documentation and representation within military archives. Critics argue that erasing these images could lead to a loss of valuable historical context and an underrepresentation of minority contributions in military history. Proponents see it as a move to align military records with current federal policies.
The initiative raises questions about how military history will be recorded and remembered. As content continues to be removed, there is concern over how future generations will access and understand these significant milestones in military diversity.