Naval Academy Removes Nearly 400 Books Following Federal DEI Ban

The removal, part of a Trump administration directive, has drawn criticism for erasing works on race, gender, and historical events.

The U.S. Naval Academy removed 391 books from its library to comply with executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content.
Titles removed include works on the Holocaust, racism, gender identity, and feminism, such as 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' by Maya Angelou and 'How to Be an Antiracist' by Ibram X. Kendi.
The Navy released the list of removed books on April 4, revealing the scope of the purge and intensifying public criticism over cultural and historical erasure.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been instrumental in enforcing the executive orders across military academies, emphasizing traditional values and uniformity.
Advocacy groups and lawmakers are questioning the impact of these removals on minority representation and historical preservation within federal institutions.