21 hours Ago By James Matheson
The Naval Academy removed and then put back photos and items commemorating female Jewish leaders this week at its Jewish chapel as part of a larger excision of materials promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed.The removals came ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to the academy Tuesday, his first since his confirmation. The items were returned to their display Tuesday following reports from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit group.
Commander Tim Hawkins, the Navy’s assistant chief of information and media operations, said the items inside the display case “were mistakenly removed from the U.S. Naval Academy Commodore Uriah P.
Levy Center. Naval Academy leadership took immediate steps to correct the unauthorized removal and all items were returned to display cases within the center on April 1.”Hegseth issued a mandate in February requiring all military branches and divisions to remove news articles, photos and videos promoting DEI and related to “critical race theory, gender ideology, and identity-based programs.
”The order was an effort to enforce a swath of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump aimed at DEI in the military. The sweeping orders have led to the removal of videos about the Tuskegee Airmen and the military story of Jackie Robinson at the Air Force and on the Defense Department’s website before being restored.Carl Snowden, a civil rights activist and author, believes the expansive nature of Trump’s orders is by design.
“It’s intentional, and it does something,” Snowden said. “By inference, it suggests that the Jewish members were being honored because they’re Jewish and not based on their merit.”Trump previously issued an executive order meant to combat antisemitism.
“It shall be the policy of the United States to combat antisemitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence,” the order reads.Hegseth’s office also began a review of all books that promote DEI, leading to the removal of 400 books in the academy’s Nimitz Library this week, according to the Associated Press.The full list of books has not been made available.
“We can confirm the U.S. Naval Academy has removed nearly 400 books from their Nimitz Library collection in order to ensure compliance with all directives outlined in Executive Orders issued by the President,” Hawkins said in a release.
“The Naval Academy’s mission is to develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically in order to cultivate honorable leaders, create a culture of excellence and prepare them for careers of service to our country.”Nimitz Library houses about 590,000 books, 322 databases and over 5,000 journals and magazines.The academy stopped its use of affirmative action in admissions recently and at a Senate hearing last week, Vice Adm.
Yvette Davids, the academy’s superintendent, shared the results of a curriculum review in compliance with Trump’s executive orders.Of the 870 courses reviewed at the Naval Academy, two were removed: A leadership course titled “Gender Matters” and an English course titled “Gender sexuality studies.” Eighteen others were modified.
“It is important that contributions the Jewish community has made, that African Americans have made, that Americans have made in general, not be erased from history,” Snowden said.Have a news tip? Contact James Matheson at [email protected], 443-842-2344 or on X @jamesmatheson__.
