Maya Angelou memoir, Holocaust book are among those pulled from Naval
Academy library in DEI purge
[April 05, 2025]
By LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil
rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, “I Know Why
the Caged Bird Sings,” were among the nearly 400 volumes removed from
the U.S. Naval Academy's library this week after Defense Secretary Pete
Hegseth’s office ordered the school to get rid of ones that promote
diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Navy late Friday provided the list of 381 books that have been taken
out of its library. The move marks another step in the Trump
administration’s far-reaching effort to purge so-called DEI content from
federal agencies, including policies, programs, online and social media
postings and curriculum at schools.
In addition to Angelou's award-winning tome, the list includes
“Memorializing the Holocaust,” which deals with Holocaust memorials;
“Half American,” about African Americans in World War II; “A Respectable
Woman," about the public roles of African American women in 19th century
New York; and “Pursuing Trayvon Martin,” about the 2012 shooting of the
Black 17-year-old in Florida that raised questions about racial
profiling.
Other books clearly deal with subjects that have been stridently
targeted by the Trump administration, including gender identity,
sexuality and transgender issues. A wide array of books on race and
gender were targeted, dealing with such topics as African American women
poets, entertainers who wore blackface and the treatment of women in
Islamic countries.
Also on the list were historical books on racism, the Ku Klux Klan and
the treatment of women, gender and race in art and literature.
In a statement, the Navy said officials went through the Nimitz Library
catalog, using keyword searches, to identify books that required further
review. About 900 books were identified in the search.
“Departmental officials then closely examined the preliminary list to
determine which books required removal,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, Navy
spokesman. “Nearly 400 books were removed from Nimitz Library to comply
with directives outlined in Executive Orders issued by the President.”
The books were removed shortly before Hegseth arrived Tuesday for a
visit to the academy, which had already been planned and was not
connected to the library purge, officials said.
The Pentagon has said the academies are "fully committed to executing
and implementing President Trump’s Executive Orders.”
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An entrance to the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Md., is
seen Jan. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
 The Naval Academy in Annapolis,
Maryland, the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and
the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, had not been
included in President Donald Trump’s executive order in January that
banned DEI instruction, programs or curriculum in kindergarten
through 12th grade schools that receive federal funding. That is
because the academies are colleges.
Pentagon leaders, however, turned their attention to the Naval
Academy last week when a media report noted that the school had not
removed books promoting DEI.
A U.S. official said the academy was told late last week to conduct
the review and removal. It isn’t clear if the order was directed by
Hegseth or someone else on his staff.
A West Point official confirmed earlier this week that the school
had completed a review of its curriculum and was prepared to review
library content if directed by the Army. The Air Force and Naval
academies had also done curriculum reviews as had been required.
An Air Force Academy official said the school continually reviews
its curriculum, coursework and other materials to ensure it all
complies with executive orders and Defense Department policies.
Last week, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, the Air Force Academy
superintendent, told Congress that the school was in the middle of
its course review, but there was no mention of books.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss academy
policies.
Hegseth has aggressively pushed the department to erase DEI programs
and online content, but the campaign has been met with questions
from angry lawmakers, local leaders and citizens over the removal of
military heroes and historic mentions from Defense Department
websites and social media pages.
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