The U.S. Air Force announced it will resume using a video about the Tuskegee Airmen in trainee instruction following a review to comply with President Donald Trump’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump, who took office on January 20, has prohibited DEI programs across the U.S. government and military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, sworn in on Friday, has prioritized removing DEI from the military.
The review also paused a video on Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs), civilian women who trained during World War II. Both were excluded from basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, pending evaluation. The decision, first reported by the San Antonio Express-News, caused backlash, particularly in Alabama, home to Tuskegee, where the Airmen trained. Alabama Senator Katie Boyd Britt called the pause “malicious compliance” on X (formerly Twitter). Hegseth responded, “This will not stand.”
On Sunday, the Air Force confirmed both videos would be taught, noting one trainee group experienced a delay. Lieutenant General Brian Robinson, head of Air Education and Training Command, assured, “No Airmen or Guardians will miss this instruction.”
The Tuskegee Airmen were 450 Black pilots who served in segregated units during World War II. Their combat success influenced President Harry Truman’s 1948 decision to desegregate the armed forces.
DEI programs aim to support traditionally underrepresented groups, including women and minorities. Advocates argue they address systemic inequities and racism, while critics, often conservatives, claim they promote discrimination and undermine meritocracy.
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