Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Department of Education threatens to revoke school funding for teaching about systemic racism — In February 2025, the Department of Education sent a letter threatening to halt federal funding to any school that teaches students about "systemic and structural racism." The letter argues that these lessons "teach students that certain racial groups bear unique moral burdens that others do not." The American Civil Liberties Union sued the Department, arguing that the letter violated free speech. In April, multiple federal judges froze the order.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration instructed Department of Education to end investigations into book bans — The Trump administration directed the Department of Education to cease investigations into book bans, labeling them a "hoax." This move comes amid a surge in book bans across the United States, particularly targeting discussions of race, LGBTQ+ issues, and diversity in public schools. The directive reflects a broader conservative backlash against certain educational materials and has been criticized for undermining free expression and educational diversity.

Supporting reports

• Department of Defense Education Activity bans instruction about race and gender — In February 2025, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which runs a network of 161 primary and secondary schools, released a memo instructing educators to stop teaching "resources potentially related to gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology that are under the operational compliance review." The memo stated it was to "ensure compliance with executive orders." DoDEA schools were also instructed to remove books "potentially related to gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology" and cancel cultural awareness activities, including Black History Month.
• Department of Defense imposes censorship on military schools — The Department of Defense (DoD) has implemented a censorship regime across its 161 primary and secondary schools, as detailed in a February 7 memo from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). This directive, purportedly to comply with President Trump's executive orders, eliminates content acknowledging contributions of women, minorities, and LGBTQ people. It cancels cultural awareness events and mandates the removal of related materials from school libraries and curriculums, affecting 67,000 students in military families. The memo has led to the removal of books and the alteration of curriculums to exclude topics related to gender and racial equity.
• DoDEA schools ordered to alter curriculums — The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has instructed its schools to alter curriculums to comply with President Trump's executive orders. Educators are directed to stop teaching materials related to "gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology." Prohibited materials include chapters on gender and sexuality in AP Psychology, Black History Month content, and lessons on immigration. The guidance also restricts access to books like "Becoming Nicole," affecting the educational content available to students.
• Military schools ordered to remove specific books — Following a February 7 memo, military school librarians and teachers have been instructed to remove books related to "gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology" from libraries. The directive affects DoDEA schools worldwide, with a deadline of March 3 for reviewing such books. Titles already removed include "Hillbilly Elegy," "Brave New World," and "An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States." A subsequent memo on February 10 informed parents of additional titles pending review, including books about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a young girl accepting her freckles.