DEI Defiance at the War Department?
By Will Rodriguez
October 20, 2025
In early 2025, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth directed the elimination of all DEI efforts within our Armed Forces and refocus the attention of our Armed Forces to its core mission, combat readiness, and meritocracy.
40 to 50 years ago, in response to a number of cultural issues stemming from the post-Vietnam War era and Civil Rights era, a number of affinity groups were established to “support” the Armed Forces. These affinity groups were formed to address “perceived racial, ethnic and gender issues and inequalities,” and they believed that they were improving the readiness and the missions of our Armed Forces through their attention to these issues. Specifically, these “stovepiped” nonprofit affinity groups (designated as IRS 501(c)(3) organizations) were formed to individually support African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and women. Moreover, these affinity groups received financial and operational support, through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), from their respective personnel and diversity offices of the Armed Forces in order to advance what eventually became Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and other personnel initiatives, including leadership, career management, and of course, meritocracy.
Notwithstanding the direction from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to rely on merit alone, the following nonprofit affinity groups have stayed active performing their respective missions:
ANSO:
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/10/20/dei_defiance_at_the_war_department_1141969.html
