Court finds book removals were politically motivated rather than educational
A federal judge has directed the U.S. Department of Defense to restore books discussing race and gender in five school libraries located on military bases, following a lawsuit filed by students who argued their First Amendment rights had been violated.
The decision stems from a case brought in April by twelve students attending Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy, and Japan. The students, all children of active-duty service members, claimed that the removal of nearly 600 titles limited their right to access diverse educational materials and express ideas freely.
Background on federal directives and educational restrictions
Earlier this year, federal executive orders instructed agencies to eliminate content perceived as promoting “gender ideology” or “discriminatory equity ideology.” Subsequently, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued memoranda restricting instruction related to Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and prohibiting official recognition of events such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
According to the plaintiffs, DoDEA officials directed teachers to remove books, cancel events, and suspend lessons that could conflict with these policies. Reported examples included the cancellation of Black History Month events, removal of classroom posters depicting Malala Yousafzai and Frida Kahlo, and suspension of Holocaust Remembrance Day activities.
Court ruling and implications
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles determined that the removals were “not rooted in pedagogical concerns” but reflected “improper partisan motivation.” The court ordered the Department of Defense to immediately reinstate all books and educational materials previously removed.
As of now, neither the Department of Defense nor the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has issued a public statement in response to the court’s decision.
