President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have drawn a bold red line in the sand, sending a powerful message to the woke ideologues who have been infiltrating our military institutions for far too long: the era of divisive DEI indoctrination is over, and America is returning to a military culture rooted in merit, excellence, and patriotism.
On Friday, the Pentagon issued a sweeping directive mandating the immediate review and removal of all library books across military institutions that promote divisive concepts such as critical race theory, gender identity ideology, affirmative action, and so-called “white privilege.” Acting Undersecretary for Personnel Timothy Dill made clear that these materials are “incompatible with the Department of Defense’s core mission” of defending our nation and fostering unity among our troops.
This move follows last month’s decisive action at the U.S. Naval Academy, where nearly 400 books advancing woke narratives were pulled from library shelves. Army and Air Force academies have already begun similar purges—sending a clear signal that the Trump administration is serious about eliminating ideological infiltration within our military ranks.
But this is not merely about books on shelves. Secretary Hegseth has also issued a separate directive enforcing merit-based admissions at military academies, unequivocally prohibiting admissions offices from considering applicants’ race, sex, or ethnicity. The memo emphasizes “merit-based scores,” ensuring that our future military leaders are chosen based solely on their ability, character, and dedication—not on arbitrary identity categories.
Predictably, the left has erupted in outrage. Democrat Amy McGrath, known for her failed Senate bid in Kentucky, took to social media to denounce the Pentagon’s actions, lamenting the removal of books by prominent woke authors such as Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. McGrath accused the administration of harming institutions “supposed to develop courageous and thoughtful military leaders.” But what she and her allies conveniently ignore is that the true courage and thoughtfulness we need are those that unite our service members around shared American values—not those that divide them into identity-based factions.
Let’s be clear: the Trump administration’s moves are not censorship—they are course corrections. Our military academies and bases are not social experimentation labs for progressive political agendas. They exist solely to defend the United States of America and to train our troops to be the best fighting force on earth. Injecting divisive ideologies that pit Americans against one another weakens morale and jeopardizes military readiness. Secretary Hegseth’s memo puts it succinctly: “We are building a colorblind, merit-based culture that promotes and rewards individual initiative, excellence, and hard work.”
Moreover, Hegseth’s bold decision to discharge transgender service members who choose not to voluntarily exit by June 6 further underscores the administration’s commitment to restoring military readiness and cohesion. This action reverses Biden-era policies that prioritized identity politics over combat effectiveness, policies which compromised physical standards and unit cohesion.
The left argues these changes are harmful to diversity. But true diversity—the diversity that makes America great—is not skin-deep or identity-based. It is the diversity of ideas, talents, and abilities working together in pursuit of a common mission. A military obsessed with identity politics is a weaker military—period.
With these new directives, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are righting the ship, reclaiming our military academies and institutions from the radical left, and restoring the vital American principle that success should be based on merit and performance. This return to common sense is long overdue and urgently needed if we are to maintain military superiority in an increasingly dangerous world.
Make no mistake—this is a critical moment. The woke ideology that Biden and his allies allowed to infiltrate our military institutions was never about strength or unity. It was about division and weakness. President Trump promised America he would end this corrosive influence, and once again, he is delivering. The Pentagon’s decisive actions this week send an unmistakable message to our adversaries abroad and woke activists at home: America’s military is back—strong, united, and focused solely on its mission to defend our nation.
