Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declares “DEI is dead” in the military as he leads the most aggressive overhaul of military culture in decades, returning to merit-based standards that have already boosted recruitment to record levels.
Key Takeaways
- Secretary Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive review and removal of DEI materials from military libraries, with nearly 400 books already pulled from the U.S. Naval Academy.
- The Pentagon is shifting to a strictly merit-based admission system for military academies that prohibits consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex.
- Under President Trump’s direction, the military is refocusing on the “Warrior Ethos,” prioritizing war-fighting capability, lethality, and readiness.
- Recruitment numbers have reportedly reached record highs since implementing these traditional military standards.
- Hegseth has dismissed concerns about preferred pronouns in military correspondence, emphasizing that “men are men and women are women” in Trump’s Defense Department.
Purging DEI from Military Libraries
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered military libraries to purge materials related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in what officials describe as the “broadest and most detailed” directive of its kind. The Pentagon memo, signed by Timothy Dill, directs the removal of books addressing diversity, anti-racism, or gender issues by May 21, declaring that materials “promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department’s core mission,” according to The Associated Press.
The directive includes specific search terms for identifying books to be removed, ranging from affirmative action and critical race theory to various gender-related terms. Reports indicate the U.S. Naval Academy has already removed nearly 400 books from its library, including titles about the Holocaust and civil rights. Military academies have been instructed to admit students based on merit alone, with “no consideration of race, ethnicity or sex,” as Hegseth has emphasized.
Warrior Ethos Replaces DEI
Secretary Hegseth has made it clear that the military’s new direction under President Trump will be focused on traditional military values. “DEI is dead in the Department of Defense,” Hegseth declared during a recent Congressional hearing. He emphasized that the military is reverting to a merit-based system that prioritizes combat readiness over social initiatives. The shift represents a dramatic reversal from policies implemented during previous administrations.
“The Warrior Ethos includes commitments such as placing the mission first and never leaving a fallen comrade,” said Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense.
The Defense Department’s renewed focus centers on five key areas: war-fighting capabilities, lethality, meritocracy, maintaining high standards, and operational readiness. These principles align with President Trump’s vision for a military that prioritizes combat effectiveness over social engineering. As part of this cultural reset, Hegseth has also canceled programs focused on women’s participation in the military, despite previous bipartisan support for such initiatives.
Record Recruitment Numbers Reported
Perhaps the most compelling evidence supporting Hegseth’s approach comes from the recruiting stations. According to the Secretary, the military has seen record recruitment numbers since implementing these changes. This success suggests that returning to traditional military values and a focus on merit rather than identity-based criteria resonates with potential recruits. The Pentagon appears to be addressing a recruitment crisis that had plagued the armed forces in recent years.
“Promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department’s core mission,” said Timothy Dill, Pentagon official.
During a recent Congressional hearing, Hegseth dismissed concerns about the inclusion of preferred pronouns in military correspondence, stating that such practices have no place in a military focused on basics and combat readiness. “Men are men and women are women in Trump’s Defense Department,” Hegseth stated emphatically, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to biological reality over gender ideology. The Secretary made it clear that removing distractions and political agendas from military training is essential to building a more effective fighting force.
