The Department of Defense is reviewing content that was recently removed from public military media platforms as part of a broader effort to align with new leadership directives to phase out diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming.
In a video message posted to social media on Thursday, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the DOD has been actively identifying and archiving DEI-related content from official websites and social media channels. The directive to remove the material came last month under new department leadership aiming to refocus the Pentagon’s messaging around warfighting, unity, and meritocracy.
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“Over the past few weeks, we’ve taken action to identify and archive DEI content from our websites and social media platforms,” Parnell said. “Without question, this task was an arduous but incredibly important undertaking.”
However, Parnell acknowledged that the mass removal process may have gone too far in some cases. “Some content was archived that should not have been,” he admitted. As a result, department officials are now reviewing the removed material to determine whether any of it was mistakenly taken down or whether certain items could be edited to meet current standards and be reposted.
“When content is either mistakenly removed or if it’s maliciously removed, we continue to work quickly to restore it,” Parnell said.
The DOD’s flagship website, defense.gov, hosts thousands of historical articles chronicling the actions of U.S. service members and highlighting their commitment to national defense. Parnell emphasized that the effort to archive DEI content is not meant to erase history, but to ensure the department’s digital presence reflects its renewed emphasis on military readiness and shared national values.
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“We are so proud of our nation’s heroes and our heritage,” Parnell added. “We honor the accomplishments of our warfighters and the content of their character. Americans, past and present, are the greatest people the world has ever known, and we live in the greatest country the world has ever known. Our strength, now and always, is our unity and shared purpose.”
The DEI purge and review effort comes amid broader changes at the Pentagon, including the elimination of DEI programs and a shift toward merit-based standards under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The department has promised greater transparency in how it communicates with the public and a recommitment to what it describes as the core mission of the U.S. military: lethality, readiness, and national defense.
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