Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wasted no time addressing a brewing controversy within the U.S. Air Force, ordering the immediate reinstatement of training modules about the famed Tuskegee Airmen and the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) after reports surfaced Friday that the materials had been cut from the basic training curriculum. The alleged cuts, which sparked outrage across social media and Capitol Hill, were rumored to be a reaction to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order dismantling the military’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) infrastructure. However, Hegseth’s swift action sent a clear message that efforts to politicize or misrepresent Trump’s policies will not be tolerated.
The controversy began Friday evening when the Express-News published details from a circulating memo reportedly instructing Air Force personnel to remove several videos from a basic training course on “airmindedness.” Among the videos removed was one about the Tuskegee Airmen, another titled “Breaking Barriers,” and a third focused on the WASPs, a pioneering unit of female aviators during World War II. Additionally, a video on diversity was said to have been stripped from a human relations course for recruits.
This is the Air Force indulging in political theatrics.
We’ve seen this “passive aggressive” performative nonsense in Florida where activists claim complying with anti-woke curriculum standards requires them to exclude basic history that everyone knows should be taught.
It’s… https://t.co/bufdQCuSze
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 26, 2025
This move, which seemed to undermine Trump’s executive order prohibiting racial tribalism and grievance-based training programs, quickly gained traction online. Critics, including Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, wasted no time framing the controversy as an act of “white nationalism,” conveniently ignoring the historical importance of the figures in question and mischaracterizing Trump’s executive order. Castro, a known leftist firebrand, used the incident to further his narrative, claiming the alleged cuts demonstrated systemic racism—a charge that was both baseless and politically charged.
As public outrage mounted, Alabama Senator Katie Boyd Britt stepped in, drawing further attention to the issue. Britt, a vocal advocate for the military’s heritage and values, blasted the reported removal of the Tuskegee Airmen and WASP materials as an insult to the legacy of those who fought to break barriers in the armed forces. “This is not what our military stands for,” Britt said, commending Hegseth for acting quickly to reverse the decision.
I have no doubt Secretary Hegseth will correct and get to the bottom of the malicious compliance we’ve seen in recent days. President Trump celebrated and honored the Tuskegee Airmen during his first term, promoting legendary aviator Charles McGee to Brigadier General and pinning…
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) January 26, 2025
By Sunday, Hegseth had ordered the videos to be restored to the curriculum, effective immediately. According to the Air Force, recruits will once again view the videos beginning Monday, reaffirming their importance in teaching the values and history that define the Air Force’s legacy. Hegseth’s response also sent a clear signal to the Pentagon that any attempts to defy Trump’s policies or manipulate them for partisan purposes will not be tolerated.
But the incident has raised broader questions about resistance within the military to Trump’s executive order, which aims to refocus the armed forces on readiness, unity, and mission success rather than divisive DEI initiatives. Reports have surfaced of what some are calling a “guerilla war” being waged by leftist elements within the Pentagon against Trump’s agenda. In closed forums, such as the “Service Academy Women” Facebook group, some former and current military personnel openly discuss strategies for resisting policy changes. One post, purportedly written by a former Army intelligence officer, seemed to advocate for coordinated pushback against the administration’s efforts to remove DEI programs.
Hey Lisa Yates, you do realize that you left your name up there at the top, right? pic.twitter.com/iwBiplUxLb
— TimOnPoint (@TimOnPoint) January 26, 2025
These developments have raised alarms about the extent to which partisan activism has infiltrated the military bureaucracy. While Hegseth’s decisive action in reinstating the videos has effectively stomped out this particular fire, many argue that more needs to be done to root out the individuals behind such efforts. Without accountability, critics warn, these acts of defiance could become a sport for leftist activists within the Pentagon.
