Federal Judge Mandates Return of Books on Gender and Race to Military School Libraries
In a significant legal development, a federal judge has ordered the Department of Defense to reintroduce books addressing gender and race issues to libraries in five schools located on military bases. This decision comes as a result of a lawsuit initiated by students and their families who claimed that their First Amendment rights were being infringed upon.
Earlier this year, 12 students from schools on military bases in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy, and Japan filed a lawsuit, arguing that the removal of nearly 600 books from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools they attended violated their rights. These students, children of active-duty service members ranging from pre-kindergarten to 11th grade, claimed the action was unjust.
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with its Kentucky and Virginia chapters, advocated on behalf of these families, petitioning for the reinstatement of “all books and curriculum already quarantined or removed based on potential violation of the Executive Orders.”
The controversy began when President Trump issued executive orders demanding the removal of materials promoting “gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology” from federal agencies, including schools. Subsequently, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth introduced memoranda such as “Restoring America’s Fighting Force,” which prohibited instruction on Critical Race Theory, DEI, or gender ideology, and “Identity Months Dead at DoD,” barring official resources from being used for cultural celebrations.
Following these directives, DoDEA officials reportedly instructed teachers to remove books and discontinue lesson plans that might contravene the executive orders. The banned books addressed topics such as sexual identity, racism, and LGBTQ pride. A comprehensive list of the removed books can be viewed here.
The removal of these books also led to the cancellation of cultural events, including Black History Month celebrations and Holocaust Remembrance Day. Additionally, educational materials featuring figures like Malala Yousafzai and Frida Kahlo were taken down in some schools.
According to the ACLU’s motion, students alleged that they faced disciplinary actions when they protested these measures, creating an environment where discussions on race and gender became stifled due to fears of repercussions.
Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, in her decision, supported the students, asserting that the book removals were driven by “improper partisan motivation” rather than educational concerns. She ordered the immediate restoration of the removed books and curricular materials.
As of now, the Department of Defense and the Department of Defense Education Activity have not issued a response to inquiries made by NPR.
