Controversy has emerged at the U.S. Naval Academy after the removal of historical items related to female Jewish graduates ahead of a visit from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The removal, which took place at the Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center and Jewish Chapel, has drawn attention and criticism from various quarters.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), an organization that champions religious freedom, brought the incident to light after its members discovered the absence of the commemorative items. Cmdr. Ashley Hockycko, representing the Naval Academy, acknowledged the removal, stating it was done “mistakenly” and assured that steps were being taken to rectify the situation.
Defense Secretary Hegseth has been linked to similar removals across various military and defense settings, often perceived as efforts to align with his and the Trump administration’s stance on diversity-related content. Hegseth’s directive called for the elimination of materials promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), leading to the removal of various historical and educational resources.
The Naval Academy’s incident is one of several, including the removal of books and online content that highlight the achievements of women and minorities in the military. Some content, such as lessons involving the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, has been restored following public outcry. However, a full account of all removed content has not been disclosed by Hegseth’s office.
MRFF President Mikey Weinstein reported receiving numerous complaints from Naval Academy personnel about the removal. Interestingly, commemorations for male Jewish graduates remained intact. The removed items were restored by Tuesday evening, following less than a day’s absence.
Additionally, the Naval Academy confirmed the removal of nearly 400 books from its library, an action tied to Hegseth’s visit and the administration’s push against diversity-related materials. Despite previous beliefs that the executive order did not apply to higher education, the academy proceeded with the purge.
Frustration is mounting within the Pentagon due to the perceived vagueness and inconsistency of the directives on DEI materials. An anonymous official described the situation as a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” dilemma, where compliance can lead to accusations of “malicious compliance” if it results in public backlash.
One notable incident involved the removal and eventual restoration of a website dedicated to Jackie Robinson, an Army veteran and baseball legend. This incident was part of a broader removal of content honoring minority contributions in military history.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell addressed the issue, admitting to inadvertent removals due to AI and software limitations. He emphasized, “History is not DEI,” leaving officials grappling with the practical implications of such statements.
