Overview

• The ACLU has filed a federal lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) over systemic book removals and curriculum changes in Pentagon-run schools.
• The lawsuit argues that the removals, prompted by executive orders from President Trump, violate students' First Amendment rights by censoring materials on race, gender, and other critical topics.
• Books removed include titles such as Maya Angelou's 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' and Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner,' while certain controversial works like 'Mein Kampf' remain available.
• The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, seeks the immediate reinstatement of banned books and curricula in DoDEA schools worldwide.
• The changes have affected 161 schools serving military families across 11 countries, with critics warning of the broader implications for academic freedom and diversity in education.