In Washington, the Department of Defense is undertaking a significant effort to eliminate content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion from its platforms. A recently acquired database indicates that over 26,000 images and posts across various branches of the military have been earmarked for removal. U.S. officials have confirmed this information, noting that the total number could eventually rise substantially, possibly reaching up to 100,000 when accounting for social media and other online platforms.
The purge is in response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive, following President Donald Trump’s executive order to end diversity programs within the federal government. This has led to the deletion of numerous posts highlighting achievements by women and minorities in the military, as well as content commemorating specific months dedicated to Black, Hispanic, and women’s history.
Instances of confusion have arisen due to the criteria for content removal. For example, images were flagged for removal due to the inclusion of the word “gay” in references, such as the B-29 aircraft Enola Gay used during World War II, despite its historical significance. Similarly, unrelated images like those from the Army Corps of Engineers highlighting a project in California have been flagged merely because personnel names coincidentally match flagged terms.
Efforts to comply with the directive have also led to the temporary removal of educational material like courses featuring the Tuskegee Airmen, although some content is expected to be preserved due to its historical value. Discrepancies have been noted in what gets removed and what remains visible, such as images of female military pioneers and various historical milestones.
The database was established to comply with federal archival laws, suggesting that the need to demonstrate legal compliance may complicate complete preservation of content marked for removal. The task is further hindered by a lack of individuals authorized to oversee such removals, with some branches like the Marine Corps having identified thousands of items for deletion yet struggling with personnel shortages to process them.
On February 26, the Pentagon mandated the military services systematically review and purge content promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion from digital platforms. If unable to meet the deadline, branches were advised to temporarily remove all content affiliated with the Biden administration’s tenure.
This process continues as branches strive to secure administrative access to dormant social media accounts to manage the content in alignment with the directive. This initiative underscores administrative challenges and the extensive task of maintaining compliance while acknowledging past military advancements and milestones.
