Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell sent a directive to the entire department on Wednesday, ordering that all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) materials be removed from “all official online content.”
The memo, titled “Digital Content Refresh,” read as follows:
“By March 5, 2025, Components must take all practicable steps, consistent with records management requirements, to remove all DoD news and feature articles, photos, and videos that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). All articles, photos, and videos removed from DoD websites and social media platforms must be archived and retained in accordance with applicable records management policies.
DEI content includes but is not limited to information that promotes programs, concepts, or materials about critical race theory, gender ideology, and preferential treatment or quotas based upon sex, race, or ethnicity, or other DEI-related matters with respect to promotion and selection reform, advisory boards, councils, and working groups.
Content requiring removal also includes that which is counter to merit-based or color-blind policies (e.g., articles that focus on immutable characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or sex) or promotes cultural awareness months as outlined in Secretary Hegseth’s January 31, 2025, Memorandum, “Identity Months Dead at DoD.”
According to Breitbart:
“It said explicitly that the guidance does not apply to content required by law to be publicly available or related to normal installation or component operations and activities, including but not limited to, customer-focused content,” which includes base conditions, activities, and services; current and historical leadership biographies; DoD Education Activity school activities, operations, and notifications; and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation and Commissary operations and activities.
The news comes as the military services scramble to identify probationary workers the administration has targeted for firing under its campaign to slash the government workforce.
The firings included:
Gen. CQ Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations
Gen. Jim Slife, vice chief of the Air Force
The judge advocates general for the services
Trump’s directive is part of a broader executive order dismantling federal DEI programs.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a January 31 memo titled “Identity Months Dead at DoD.”
