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ACLU Sues Pentagon Schools Over Book Bans and Curriculum Changes

Twelve students from military families allege First Amendment violations after race- and gender-related materials were removed under Trump administration directives.

Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, attends a news conference at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
A shelf of frequently banned books on display at Sandmeyer’s Bookstore in Chicago on July 13, 2023. The titles, which include works exploring race, gender, and identity, have been at the center of recent book ban efforts across the country.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Commander-in-Chief trophy presentation to the Navy Midshipman football team in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Overview

  • The lawsuit, filed in Virginia federal court, challenges the removal of books and curricula on race, gender, and LGBTQ topics in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.
  • The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) represents 12 students from six families stationed in the U.S., Italy, and Japan, arguing the changes violate students' rights to free speech and access to information.
  • The removals stem from executive orders signed by President Trump in January 2025, which aimed to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal education programs.
  • Nearly 400 books were also recently removed from the U.S. Naval Academy library under the same directives, including titles addressing race, LGBTQ issues, and historical topics.
  • The lawsuit seeks the immediate reinstatement of banned materials and challenges the administration's authority to restrict educational content in civilian-managed schools.