Air Force Resumes Teaching Tuskegee Airmen After Backlash

In response to President Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, the U.S. Air Force initially removed training materials about the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) from its curriculum. This decision faced significant backlash from legislators and organizations like Tuskegee Airmen Inc., which argued that the contributions of these historic figures are integral to American military history. Following the criticism, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Air Force would resume teaching these lessons, emphasizing the importance of honoring the legacy of the first Black military pilots and the female pilots who served during World War II. Lt. Gen. Brian S. Robinson confirmed that while the curriculum had been adjusted for compliance, no airmen would miss the essential training. Senator Katie Britt criticized the initial removal as 'malicious compliance' and reaffirmed the administration's commitment to honoring the Tuskegee Airmen's legacy. The swift reversal highlights the tensions surrounding the implementation of anti-DEI policies in the military and federal government.