Students Sue Department of Defense Schools Over Censorship of Race and Gender Topics

Twelve students from military families are suing the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), claiming their First Amendment rights are being violated by recent book removals and curriculum changes driven by executive orders signed by President Donald Trump. The suit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), involves students ranging from pre-K to 11th grade at DoDEA schools in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy, and Japan. DoDEA oversees 161 schools across 11 countries, seven U.S. states, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Since January, these schools have reportedly removed books, altered academic content, and canceled events tied to topics labeled as promoting “gender ideology” or “divisive equity ideology.” This includes materials about slavery, Native American history, LGBTQ topics, preventing sexual harassment, and elements of the AP Psychology curriculum. “Learning is a sacred and foundational right that is now being limited,” said parent and plaintiff Natalie Tolley. “I have three daughters, and they… deserve access to books that both mirror their own life experiences and… expose them to greater diversity.”

The changes stem from three Trump-era executive orders: EO 14168 “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism,” EO 14185 “Restoring America’s Fighting Force,” and EO 14190 “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.” Plaintiffs argue these orders have resulted in unconstitutional censorship. According to Emerson Sykes of the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, “These schools are some of the most diverse and high achieving in the nation… [and] our clients deserve better, and the First Amendment demands it.”

The lawsuit also points to banned cultural events like Black History Month and Pride Month, as well as restrictions on yearbooks promoting gender identity. Banned books reportedly include The Kite Runner, Hillbilly Elegy, and The Antiracist Kid. “The government can’t scrub references to race and gender… just because the Trump administration doesn’t like certain viewpoints,” said Matt Callahan of the ACLU of Virginia. Corey Shapiro of the ACLU of Kentucky added, “Censoring books and canceling assignments about the contributions of Black Americans is not only wrong, but antithetical to our First Amendment rights.”

Link: ACLU