Donald Trump’s order halting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts has led the US Air Force to suspend course instruction on a documentary about the US military’s first black pilots, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, a US official said on Saturday.
Among the famous black pilots were 450 pilots who fought overseas in segregated units during World War II. Their success in combat helped pave the way for Harry Truman’s decision to eliminate deconsolidation of the armed forces in 1948.
Another video of female civilian pilots trained by the US military during World War II, known as Women’s Air Service Pilots, or Wasps, has been withdrawn, the official said.
The Air Force did not comment directly on the decision, which was confirmed by an official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The US president has issued a series of executive orders seeking to dismantle DEI programs since taking office on Monday.
DEI programs seek to enhance opportunities for women, racial minorities, and other traditionally underrepresented groups. Civil rights advocates argue that these programs, which Democrats generally support, are necessary to address longstanding inequalities and structural racism.
But they have become a rallying cry for conservatives who argue that gender and sexuality-focused initiatives are inherently discriminatory and fail to prioritize meritocracy.
Reuters reported on Friday that Pete Hegseth, the new Defense Secretary, told lawmakers that he opposes using race as a factor when evaluating candidates for U.S. military academies.
The Trump administration and its backers in Congress argue that the US military also needs to purge generals who support DEI initiatives, which they say are a distraction from fighting the war.
The US official said the video on the Tuskegee Airman and other historical materials has been pulled as the Air Force conducts a curriculum at Joint Base San Antonio-LaCande, where new recruits get basic training.
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The official stressed that the videos were not targeted but were part of the curriculum that was suspended pending review.
For its part, the Air Force said in a statement that it is committed to implementing Trump’s orders.
An Air Force spokesperson said: “The Department of the Air Force will implement and enforce all directives outlined in the President’s Executive Orders, ensuring they are implemented with the utmost professionalism, efficiency, and consistency with national security objectives.”