WASHINGTON (AP) — The US Naval Academy has deleted almost 400 books from the library after being told by the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses’s office to review and remove it. Promote diversity, equity and inclusionUS officials said Tuesday.
Academy staff were asked to review the library later last week, and the initial search identified around 900 books and gave them a good look. They decided nearly 400 to remove, and began it on Monday, ending before Hegses arrived to visit Tuesday, it was already planned and not connected to the library purge, officials said. Book list is not available yet.
Pulling books off the shelf is another step in the Trump administration’s widespread efforts. Eliminate so-called DEI content From federal agencies such as school policies, programs, online and social media posts, curriculum and more.
The Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the US Military Academy in West Point, New York were not included in President Donald Trump’s executive order in January. That’s because the academy is a university.
However, Pentagon leaders suddenly turned their attention to the Naval Academy last week when a media report said the school hadn’t deleted books that promote Day. US officials said the academy was told to carry out reviews and deletions late last week. It is not clear whether the order was directed by someone else on his staff.
West Point officials confirmed that the school has completed a curriculum review and is ready to review library content if the Army directs it. The Air Force and Navy Academy also reviewed the curriculum as needed.
Officials from the Air Force Academy said the school has continuously reviewed its curriculum, coursework and other materials to ensure that everything is in compliance with executive orders and the Department of Defense policies. Last week, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauanfeind, principal of the Air Force Academy, told Congress that the school is in the middle of reviewing its course but that the book was not mentioned.
Authorities spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the academy’s policy.
Hegseth is actively pushing the department to erase DEI programs and online content, but the campaign is full of questions from angry lawmakers, local leaders and citizens About the removal of military heroes Historical mentions from the Department of Defense website and social media pages.
In response, the department scrambled Restore some of these posts When their removal became clear.
Confusion over how DEI’s policies were highlighted on Monday as Naval Academy officials accidentally deleted photos of prominent female Jewish alumni from the display case while preparing for a visit to Hegses. The photo has been restored.
In a statement, the Navy said it knew the photos were accidentally deleted from the Naval Academy’s Jewish Center. The leadership of the U.S. Naval Academy said it is taking steps to review and correct unauthorized removals.
Hegseth spoke with students and had lunch at the academy on Tuesday, but the media was not allowed to be invited or cover the visit.
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