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Trait: Textbooks and museums are altered to erase dissent and accountability ×
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Tier 1 carried by a primary record
Corroborated 2+ independent news desks
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Apr 22, 2026 American Library Association documented a record 5,668 book bans from U.S. libraries in 2025, with 92% driven by government or official pressure Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
Record-scale censorship disproportionately targeted materials about LGBTQ people and people of color, undermining intellectual freedom.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- American Library Association reports record 5,668 books banned from US libraries in 2025 — The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 5,668 books banned from US libraries in 2025, with an additional 920 censored through access restrictions. Challenges targeted 4,235 unique titles. The report found that 92% of challenges came from pressure groups, decision-makers, or government officials—a significant increase from 72% in 2024—and that 40% of challenged materials involved LGBTQ+ people or people of color. The most-banned book was Sold by Patricia McCormick.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 66 – 2026-04-18–2026-04-24
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Jun 13, 2025 The Smithsonian Institution's governing board rejected Donald Trump's attempt to fire Kim Sajet Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The board's refusal defended institutional independence against political interference in a major public memory institution.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Smithsonian Institution rebuffs Trump's attempt to fire Kim Sajet — The Smithsonian Institution's governing board rejected former President Donald Trump's attempt to fire Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery. Trump had announced on May 30 that he had fired Sajet, accusing her of being "highly partisan" and a supporter of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), which he deemed inappropriate for her position. The Smithsonian's board asserted its independence, stating that all personnel decisions are made by the secretary with board oversight, thus maintaining its governance structure against political interference.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
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Jun 10, 2025 The Department of Defense removed books and DEI-related materials from military academies and schools and banned pride flags in some government spaces Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The removals and bans used state authority to restrict what could be read, taught, and displayed in official institutions.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Department of Defense bans books from Naval Academy — The Department of Defense ordered the removal of nearly 400 books from the U.S. Naval Academy library, targeting works related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Although some books have been returned, the action reflects a broader effort to control educational content in military institutions.
- Department of Defense bans DEI-related books and instruction — The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) instructed schools to remove books and cancel activities related to gender ideology and DEI. This directive, part of compliance with executive orders, has led to legal challenges from students claiming First Amendment violations.
- Departments of Veterans Affairs and State ban pride flags — The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department of State have banned the display of pride flags and similar symbols in employees' private offices and consular posts. This action reflects the administration's stance against LGBTQ+ visibility in government spaces.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
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Jun 7, 2025 The U.S. Navy planned to rename vessels named after civil rights figures Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The renaming plan would alter official public memory by removing federal honors tied to civil-rights history.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
CBS News · NPR · BBC · Military.com · Politico
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- US Navy plans to rename vessels named after civil rights icons — The US Navy is reportedly planning to rename vessels named after civil rights icons, including USNS Harvey Milk, as part of a broader DEI purge initiated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
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Jun 2, 2025 The Defense Department removed Jackie Robinson's biography from its website Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The removal altered public access to official historical material and raised concerns about state control of memory.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Defense Department removes Jackie Robinson’s biography — The Defense Department temporarily removed Jackie Robinson’s biography from its website. This action is part of a broader pattern of altering or censoring historical content, which has implications for public memory and the integrity of historical records.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 20 – 2025-05-31–2025-06-06
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