Defense agency takes aim at MLK Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day in leaked memo

Donald Trump's executive orders to root out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives extended all the way to observance of certain holidays.

A leaked memo from the Defense Intelligence Agency shows personnel were instructed to suspend observances of certain holidays that do not specifically honor white men, including Holocaust Remembrance Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, according to a document obtained by journalist Ken Klippenstein.

"The Agency is working internally and with the department to implement the Executive Orders, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, dated January 20, 2025," the memo states. "DIA will pause all activities and events related to Agency Special Emphasis Programs effective immediately and until further notice. Additionally, Special Observances hosted throughout the year by the Command Element, Directorates and Special Offices are also paused."

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The memo lists at least one holiday or special commemoration for nearly every month: Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in January, Black History Month in February, Women's History Month in March, Holocaust Day/Days of Remembrance and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Pride and Juneteenth in June, Women's Equality Day in August, National Hispanic Heritage Month in September and October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, and National American Indian Heritage Month in November.

The pause will not effect the federal holidays for King's birthday or Juneteenth, the memo adds.

"DIA will also pause Agency Resource Groups, Affinity Groups and Employee Networking Groups, effective immediately and until further notice," the memo states.

The newly inaugurated president signed an executive order Monday ending diversity programs in the military, directing Pentagon officials to review a policy on transgender troops and reinstating service members who were dismissed for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine.

Trump said in his order that DEI programs discourage merit and leadership and discriminate on the basis of race and sex, and the memo indicates that military leadership interprets his order as calling to minimize or eliminate mentions of race, gender and other sexual orientation.

The State Department also issued new public affairs guidance that reflect the president's priorities, which prompted officials to ask permission to release public statements about Black History Month as well as other "heritage months and commemorative events."

Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein.bsky.social)

Intelligence officials are starting to leak to me now too. Here’s a memo Defense Intelligence Agency personnel received instructing them to suspend observances including: - Holocaust Remembrance Day - MLK Day - Juneteenth