Elfreth Demands Answers on Military Book Bans From Secretary Hegseth

May 21, 2025
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the representative of the U.S. Naval Academy in the House of Representatives, led 8 colleagues in writing to Secretary Hegseth seeking answers into Mr. Timothy Dill’s May 9, 2025 memorandum on Reviewing the Department’s Military Educational Institution Library Collections.

“In March, under your direction, we saw the removal of nearly 400 books from the Nimitz library at the U.S. Naval Academy and the removal of photographs from Department of Defense websites. This includes Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, as well as photographs of Jackie Robinson; of Colonel Jeannie Leavitt, the first female fighter pilot; and of the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, because the plane’s name included the word ‘Gay,’” wrote the lawmakers. 

“In your confirmation hearing, you reiterated the importance of lethality in our fighting forces—how does erasing our history from public display and removing books from military educational institutions serve this goal? Time and energy spent attempting to expunge our historical record simply means diverting resources away from critical readiness,” the lawmakers continued. “Moreover, if our soldiers and sailors do not learn from history – the victories and the struggles, the successes and the hard-fought progress of our great nation’s military and servicemembers – they are doomed to repeat it.”

The letter specifically asks:

  1. When was the Academic Libraries Committee formed? Who are its members, and how were they selected?
  2. What procedures are being used to develop the list of search terms? Please include any internal guidance or criteria used to inform these decisions.
  3. Which DoD institutions are impacted by the May 9th memorandum? Please provide a full list of institutions. Please include any internal guidance or criteria used to identify these decisions.
  4. What will be done with the removed books? Will they be sold, donated, archived, or managed through another process?
  5. What is the cost associated with the removal or disposal of these books?

Elfreth has been an outspoken leader on the need to preserve our nation’s diverse military history. When House Republicans’ Budget Reconciliation Legislation came before the House Armed Services Committee, Elfreth introduced an amendment to require a panel of experts to review all artifacts and documents flagged for destruction and censorship. On the House floor, Elfreth honored the women and women of color of the U.S. Naval Academy for Women’s History Month. She has also spoken out forcefully against President Trump’s Executive Orders that roll back DEI programs across the federal government, including at our service academies.

The full letter is available HERE.

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