The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that lesson plans featuring the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) have been removed from its training curriculum amid a review of diversity-related content.
The decision comes as part of efforts to comply with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within federal agencies.
The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of Black fighter pilots who served during World War II, and the WASPs, a team of female pilots who ferried military aircraft, have long been celebrated for breaking barriers and contributing to the U.S. war effort. Their stories have been integral to Air Force training programs, serving as examples of resilience, patriotism, and the pursuit of excellence in the face of systemic discrimination and gender bias.
However, these histories were incorporated into DEI-focused coursework in basic military training. This is now under scrutiny due to the Trump administration’s sweeping orders to eliminate DEI initiatives within the federal government.
An Air Force official confirmed to CBS News that the removal of the curriculum is part of an ongoing review to ensure compliance with the executive order.
“Immediate steps were taken to remove curriculum that is now under review to ensure compliance with Executive Orders issued by the president,” an Air Force official told CBS News. “Historical videos were interwoven into U.S. Air Force and Space Force curriculum and were not the direct focus of course removal actions. Additional details on curriculum updates will be provided when they’re available.”
The review process has left many uncertain about how historical lessons will be integrated into future training, if at all.
The executive orders issued by President Trump since his inauguration on January 20 have targeted DEI initiatives across federal agencies. There have been rollbacks of DEI initiatives, and some DEI executives have been placed on paid leave.
Photo Credit: HistoryOnTheNet.com
