Key Takeaways:
- Twelve students are suing the Department of Defense over book bans and curriculum changes in Pentagon-run schools.
- The lawsuit argues that recent removals violate the students’ First Amendment rights to access information.
- Banned materials include books on gender identity, race, and AP Psychology, as well as content linked to cultural events like Black History Month and Pride Month.
- The changes stem from executive orders signed by President Donald Trump in January 2025.
- Plaintiffs seek to restore the removed materials and halt future restrictions.
A group of twelve students enrolled in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming the recent removal of books and changes to curricula violate their constitutional rights.
The legal action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia with support from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The lawsuit centers on book bans and instructional changes implemented across DoDEA schools following three executive orders issued by President Donald Trump in January.
The orders—targeting what the administration called “gender ideology” and “radical indoctrination”—prompted a wave of content removals, including educational materials on race, gender identity, LGBTQ+ history, and personal safety topics.
Plaintiffs, who are children of active-duty service members stationed in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy, and Japan, argue the restrictions have stripped them of their right to learn about their identities and American history.
“Learning is a sacred and foundational right,” said Natalie Tolley, a parent and plaintiff. “Our children deserve access to information that reflects their experiences and opens them to diverse perspectives.”
The changes also affected extracurricular and cultural activities. Observances such as Black History Month and Pride Month were suspended, and yearbooks were edited to eliminate references to gender identity or social transition.
DoDEA Director Beth Schiavino-Narvaez was named in the suit alongside Hegseth. The complaint cites the banning of numerous titles including The Kite Runner, Julian is a Mermaid, A Queer History of the United States, and AP Psychology study guides.
ACLU attorney Emerson Sykes emphasized that DoDEA students, though attending schools under military jurisdiction, retain the same First Amendment protections as other public school students. “The First Amendment protects their right to read, speak, and learn freely,” Sykes said.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to reinstate the removed content and stop further censorship across the 161 DoDEA schools operating globally.
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