A significant policy shift at the Defense Department brings an end to long-standing diversity celebrations under new Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's leadership.
According to Politico, the Pentagon has issued guidance prohibiting the use of official resources and work hours for celebrating cultural awareness months, with the directive taking effect just before the start of Black History Month.
The sweeping directive affects multiple cultural observances, including Women's History Month, Pride Month, and National Hispanic Heritage Month. This major policy change represents a departure from the Defense Department's previous approach to diversity recognition and cultural celebrations within its ranks.
The Pentagon's new guidance emphasizes the importance of service members' actions rather than their personal characteristics. Under the directive, military personnel and civilian employees maintain the right to participate in cultural celebrations, but only during non-duty hours and in unofficial capacities. This restriction applies to all identity-based observances previously recognized by the department.
The timing of this announcement has drawn particular attention, coinciding with the beginning of Black History Month on Saturday. The Defense Department's decision affects seven major cultural celebration periods that have been traditionally observed throughout the year. These celebrations have historically provided opportunities for education and recognition of diverse contributions to the military.
In explaining the rationale behind the decision, Hegseth issued the following statement:
We are proud of our warriors and their history, but we will focus on the character of their service instead of their immutable characteristics.
The Pentagon's announcement stands in contrast to President Donald Trump's position on cultural observances. Despite the Defense Department's new policy, Trump issued a proclamation supporting the recognition of Black History Month, demonstrating a divergence in approaches between the White House and the Pentagon.
The president's proclamation specifically encouraged various sectors of American society to engage in Black History Month activities. Trump's statement called for broad participation across different institutional levels, including educational facilities and public offices.
When questioned about the conflicting approaches between government agencies, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated: "The president is leading here at the White House."
The Pentagon has maintained silence on the apparent contradiction between their new policy and the president's proclamation, declining to provide additional comment on the matter.
The Defense Department's decision marks a fundamental change in how the military acknowledges and celebrates diversity within its ranks. This new directive from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth eliminates the official recognition of various cultural and identity-based celebrations that have been integral parts of military life.
The policy specifically restricts the use of official resources for celebrating cultural awareness months while maintaining that service members can participate in such events outside of their official duties. This development occurs against the backdrop of contrasting positions from the White House, creating a complex situation regarding cultural celebrations in federal institutions.
