The tails of the Alabama Air National Guard’s F-35 Lightnings are painted red, a nod to the red-tailed P-51 Mustangs flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, a renowned group of Black military pilots from Alabama during World War II. The squadron, which trained in the state, was the first in the U.S. to be made up entirely of Black pilots. These men broke racial barriers and disproved racist assumptions about the abilities of Black pilots. Their successes in combat played a key role in the desegregation of the U.S. military—a significant chapter in both state and national history.
However, there was a brief moment when the Air Force almost erased this history. After President Donald Trump took office, training videos featuring the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), who also contributed significantly during World War II, were removed from a basic training base in San Antonio. This base had long been a place where airmen received their training, but the videos honoring these pioneering groups were taken down, raising concerns about the erasure of their important legacy.
The decision to remove the videos was quickly reversed after a strong bipartisan backlash, but the brief attempt highlighted the confusion that arose from the flood of executive orders and actions taken by President Trump after his second term began. Some of these moves, like a memorandum that froze federal grants and loans, caused significant disruption, leading the administration to backtrack on several decisions that stirred chaos.
The specific order that prompted the Air Force’s decision also sparked alarm and confusion due to its unclear implications. The directive aimed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government, including those involving contractors or organizations receiving federal funding.
Along with the Air Force’s move, the Army temporarily removed its sexual assault regulations from its websites before putting them back up. Additionally, a notice from the Defense Intelligence Agency announced that it was halting various special observances, such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Days, Women’s Equality Day, and National American Indian Heritage Month, “until further notice.”
Reports indicated that CIA employees were told there would be no acknowledgements of Black History Month. A CIA spokesperson confirmed the agency was following the order and the “OPM Implementing Guidance,” referring to the Office of Personnel Management. The statement also mentioned that the agency’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion had been dissolved, along with associated DEI programs.
The far-reaching consequences of Trump’s DEI order alarmed advocates who have long fought for inclusion and recognition. They worried that the order could go beyond limiting efforts to diversify the federal workforce and potentially erase important aspects of the nation’s history and culture.
Adia Harvey Wingfield, a sociology professor at Washington University in St. Louis, pointed out that while a 2023 Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in college admissions made it clear that opportunities could be restricted for specific groups, excluding key historical information—like that of the Tuskegee Airmen—was a different issue entirely.
Adia Harvey Wingfield explained that many organizations are unsure of the legal implications of the situation, but are very aware of the political climate. They are trying to avoid actions that could attract negative attention or backlash from the Trump administration.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that some agencies might have overreacted to the DEI executive order. She stated that the White House still intends to celebrate American history and the contributions of all Americans, regardless of their race, religion, or background.
However, confusion persisted. On the same day, Trump issued a proclamation to honor Black History Month, while the Department of Defense released a statement announcing that “Identity Months” would no longer be observed at the DOD.
The Air Force’s decision to remove DEI courses, including videos about the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASPs, was one of the most widely covered actions. When the Air Force reversed its decision, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin explained that the initial removal was part of the service’s swift response to comply with Trump’s executive order, emphasizing that the Air Force acted quickly and without hesitation.
On Fox & Friends, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the removal of the Tuskegee Airmen video, calling it an example of “malicious implementation.” He highlighted the importance of honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, describing them as an example of “courageous merit,” and emphasized that their story should be celebrated and understood by all service members. Hegseth distinguished this from the DEI programs, suggesting that while the history of the Tuskegee Airmen should be recognized, it was separate from the controversial DEI initiatives.