The Pentagon has initiated a significant effort to remove content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion from its social media accounts and official archives. This move, described as a 'digital content refresh,' involves the deletion of such content from all Pentagon official social media platforms and the Defense Visual Information Distribution Services (DVIDS) archive.
A policy memo issued by the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Sean Parnell, mandates the removal of all Department of Defense news and feature articles, photos, and videos promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) by March 5, 2025. This directive aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's focus on ending diversity programs and President Donald Trump's ban on DEI initiatives across the federal government.
The memo instructs components to provide a general statement on social media platforms explaining the removal of content in line with executive orders and DoD priorities. The immediate emphasis is on removing content from the previous administration, but the order extends to DEI-related material beyond that timeframe.
DEI content subject to removal includes information promoting critical race theory, gender ideology, preferential treatment or quotas based on sex, race, or ethnicity, and other DEI-related matters concerning promotion and selection reform, advisory boards, councils, and working groups.
