Defense Secretary Hegseth Bans DEI Initiatives at Pentagon Following Trump's Executive Order

Jan 26, 2025, 09:22 PM

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a major policy shift at the Department of Defense, declaring that the Pentagon will no longer engage in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Hegseth's directive, which aligns with President Trump's executive order to terminate federal DEI programs, states that 'DoD ≠ DEI' and there will be 'no exceptions, name-changes, or delays.' Hegseth emphasized that non-compliance with this ban will result in termination of employment, signaling a strict enforcement of the new policy. This move follows Trump's broader initiative to abolish DEI programs across federal agencies, aiming to foster a merit-based society.