
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, newly confirmed to his position, has promised to refocus the United States military on its core mission of strength and lethality. In his first public address, Hegseth emphasized that the military must prioritize fitness for duty over social demographics, a declaration that immediately set the tone for his leadership under President Donald Trump’s administration. However, his directive has already faced challenges in implementation.
At Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, officials temporarily suspended the use of training videos honoring the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) as part of a review to ensure compliance with Hegseth’s new DEI-related policies. The Tuskegee Airmen, a renowned group of African American pilots from World War II, have long been celebrated as a symbol of courage and excellence. Similarly, the WASPs were trailblazing civilian female pilots who played a critical role during the same conflict.
The suspension of the videos sparked immediate backlash, with Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) taking to social media to express her disapproval. “I have no doubt Secretary Hegseth will correct and get to the bottom of the malicious compliance we’ve seen in recent days,” Britt wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She praised President Trump’s first-term recognition of the Tuskegee Airmen, specifically referencing the promotion of legendary aviator Charles McGee to Brigadier General in the Oval Office.
Britt’s remarks underscored the historical importance of the Tuskegee Airmen, calling them a prime example of merit and excellence in the armed forces. She expressed confidence that their legacy would continue to be taught under Hegseth’s leadership, which she believes is steering the Pentagon back toward its core mission of lethality and readiness.
Hegseth responded to Britt’s comments, confirming his commitment to addressing the issue. “Amen! We’re all over it, Senator. This will not stand,” he declared. By Sunday afternoon, Reuters reported that both training videos had successfully passed the review process and would continue to be used in military instruction.
Lieutenant General Brian Robinson of the Air Education and Training Command clarified that the review process caused minimal disruption, with only one group of trainees experiencing a slight delay in their instruction. “No Airmen or Guardians will miss this block of instruction due to the revision,” Robinson assured.