Federal Judge Orders Restoration of Race and Gender Books to Military Base Schools

A federal judge ruled that the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) violated students' First Amendment rights by removing nearly 600 books and censoring curricula related to race, gender, and LGBTQ+ topics from military base schools in multiple locations worldwide. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, ordered DoDEA to halt its "book quarantines" and restore access to the previously removed materials, which included classics and contemporary works addressing slavery, civil rights, sexual orientation, and gender identity. These removals followed executive orders from President Donald Trump and directives from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth aimed at eliminating materials deemed to promote "gender ideology" and "discriminatory equity ideology," as well as banning cultural celebrations such as Black History Month. The judge emphasized that these actions were motivated by partisan interests rather than educational concerns, underscoring the role of school libraries as sites of academic freedom. The lawsuit, supported by the ACLU, was filed on behalf of students ranging from pre-K to 11th grade who attend DoDEA schools. The ruling mandates the immediate return of the books and reversal of curriculum changes while the case proceeds, reaffirming protections against government censorship in educational settings.