Pentagon's DEI Purge Flags 26,000 Images for Removal, Including Historic War Heroes and Military Firsts

The Pentagon's DEI purge is a result of President Donald Trump's executive order eliminating DEI programs across the federal government. The order, which was issued in January, aims to remove all references to diversity, equity, and inclusion from government agencies. The Pentagon, under the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been working to comply with the order by removing DEI-related content from its website and online posts.

The DEI purge has flagged over 26,000 images for removal, including photos of historic war heroes, women, and minorities. The images include notable milestones in military history, such as the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan during World War II. The purge has also targeted women and people of color, including references to the country's first Black military pilots and mentions of commemorative months, such as Women's History Month.

The DEI purge has been criticized for its overly broad scope and potential impact on military morale and diversity. The purge has also been criticized for its potential to erase important aspects of military history and the contributions of women and minorities to the military. Some officials have expressed confusion over what content should be removed, with some images being flagged for removal simply because they include the word "gay," regardless of context.

Some examples of images that have been flagged for removal include: * A photo of the Enola Gay aircraft, which dropped an atomic bomb on Japan during World War II * A photo of World War II Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Harold Gonsalves * A photo of Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro, one of the first women to graduate from the Marine Corps' Infantry Training Battalion * A photo of U.S. Air Force Col. Jeannie Leavitt, the country's first female fighter pilot * A photo of the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation's first Black military pilots who served in a segregated WWII unit

The Pentagon's DEI purge has sparked controversy and criticism, with many expressing concerns over its potential impact on military morale and diversity. As the purge continues, it remains to be seen what content will ultimately be removed and what impact it will have on the military and its history.