Overview

• The lawsuit, filed in Virginia federal court, challenges the removal of books and curricula on race, gender, and LGBTQ topics in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.
• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) represents 12 students from six families stationed in the U.S., Italy, and Japan, arguing the changes violate students' rights to free speech and access to information.
• The removals stem from executive orders signed by President Trump in January 2025, which aimed to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal education programs.
• Nearly 400 books were also recently removed from the U.S. Naval Academy library under the same directives, including titles addressing race, LGBTQ issues, and historical topics.
• The lawsuit seeks the immediate reinstatement of banned materials and challenges the administration's authority to restrict educational content in civilian-managed schools.