Pentagon orders immediate removal of DEI materials from military academies and shifts to merit-based admission policies, marking a significant reversal of diversity initiatives in favor of combat readiness.
At a Glance
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered all military academies to remove DEI and anti-racism materials from their libraries within two weeks
- A second directive mandates service academies admit candidates solely on merit, with no consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex
- Nearly 400 books have already been removed from U.S. Naval Academy libraries, with similar actions at Army and Air Force academies
- The order emphasizes that selecting anyone but the most qualified candidates “erodes lethality” and “warfighting readiness”
- Transgender service members are directed to be discharged if they do not voluntarily exit by June 6
Merit-Based Military: Pentagon’s New Direction
The Pentagon has issued sweeping orders to military academies to purge diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) materials from their libraries and implement strictly merit-based admission standards. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive gives service academies and training centers just two weeks to comply with the removal of books and materials related to DEI, anti-racism, and gender ideology. The affected institutions include prestigious academies like West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy, which must certify their compliance within the tight deadline.
“This ensures only the most qualified candidates are admitted, trained, and ultimately commissioned to lead the finest fighting force in history,” Hegseth writes. “Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces.”, said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The order specifically targets materials on topics including affirmative action, critical race theory, gender identity, and white privilege. A temporary Academic Libraries Committee has been established to guide the review process and provide specific search terms for identifying books to be removed. According to reports, nearly 400 books have already been removed from the U.S. Naval Academy library, with similar actions underway at Army and Air Force academies.
— Chris (@Anfini00) May 4, 2025
Admission Standards Shift to Pure Merit
A second memo from Hegseth orders service academies to admit students “based exclusively on merit,” with “no consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex.” The directive underlines the word “no” for emphasis, making clear this is not a suggestion but a mandatory policy change. While race and gender considerations are prohibited, the memo clarifies that academies may still consider factors such as athletic talent, prior military service, or military prep school background in their admissions processes.
Hegseth also put out a memo ordering the service academies to admit students “based exclusively on merit,” with “no consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex,” underlining the word “no” on the document.”
The secretaries of each service branch must certify adherence to these merit-based admission standards within 30 days. The Pentagon memo explicitly states, “The Secretary has been clear: We are building a colorblind, merit-based culture that promotes and rewards individual initiative, excellence, and hard work.” This significant shift in educational and admissions standards comes as part of a broader rollback of DEI initiatives across federal agencies since President Trump’s return to office.
Broader Implications for Military Culture
The directive extends beyond library materials and admissions policies. Among other significant changes, transgender service members are directed to be discharged if they do not voluntarily exit by June 6. Additionally, Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and Black person to serve as congressional librarian, was fired. These actions signal a comprehensive overhaul of military culture under the new administration’s direction.
The removal list is extensive and includes a wide range of titles on subjects like Holocaust memorials, African Americans in WWII, African American women’s roles in 19th century New York, and the Trayvon Martin case. The directive from Timothy Dill, acting defense undersecretary for personnel, instructs military leaders to “promptly identify” materials promoting what are termed “divisive concepts and gender ideology” as these are deemed incompatible with the Department of Defense’s mission of maintaining battle readiness and military effectiveness.
