WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Defense has ordered an immediate pause on all cultural awareness observances and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to a leaked memo dated Jan. 28, 2025. The directive, issued under newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marks a significant shift in Pentagon policy and has ignited a heated debate over the role of diversity initiatives in the military.
The memo, circulated among DoD components and military departments, instructs officials to halt the use of government resources—including manpower and funding—for events tied to cultural awareness months. Affected observances include National African American/Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month.
“Going forward, DoD Components and Military Departments will not use official resources, to include man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months,” the memo states.
The directive also extends to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which issued its own internal memo pausing Special Emphasis Programs, Special Observances, Agency Resource Groups, Affinity Groups, and Employee Networking Groups. Among the affected observances are Holocaust Remembrance Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Women’s Equality Day, and Pride Month. The memo clarifies that federal holidays, such as MLK Day and Juneteenth, will remain unaffected.
Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein first reported on the DIA memo, sharing an image of the notice on social media. “Intelligence officials are starting to leak to me now too,” Klippenstein wrote, highlighting the immediate impact of the policy shift.
Defense Secretary Hegseth, a vocal critic of DEI programs, has made it clear that the Biden administration’s emphasis on diversity initiatives will not continue under his leadership. In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Hegseth announced the formation of a task force to ensure the complete eradication of DEI programs within the Pentagon.
“We’re not joking around,” Hegseth said. “There’s no changing of names or softly manipulating something. DEI is gone.”
The move has drawn sharp reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. Supporters of the decision, including conservative commentator Mila Joy, praised the administration for prioritizing national unity over what they see as divisive identity politics. “Americans are now going to just celebrate the Fourth of July. One country. One celebration. I love it!” Joy tweeted.
Critics, however, have condemned the policy as an attack on inclusivity and representation. During the Senate confirmation hearing for Kash Patel, a key Trump administration official, Sen. Maize Hirono (D-Hawaii) read portions of the DoD memo aloud, calling the move “regressive” and harmful to efforts to promote diversity within the military.
The Associated Press confirmed the authenticity of the DIA memo, citing a U.S. official who noted that the pause appears to be limited to the DIA and not yet a department-wide policy. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the directive is part of a broader effort to implement Executive Orders signed by President Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, aimed at ending what the administration describes as “radical and wasteful government DEI programs.”
The Pentagon’s decision reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to reshaping the federal government’s approach to diversity and inclusion, even as it faces fierce opposition from those who argue that such programs are essential to fostering a fair and equitable society.
As the debate over the role of DEI in government continues, the pause on cultural observances remains in effect, with the DoD task force working to identify and eliminate all remaining DEI initiatives.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
