FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—A senior Pentagon official ordered employees to cease all communications promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as climate change, The Daily Signal has learned.
Department of Defense employees must end all communication initiatives that violate President Donald Trump’s executive orders, according to a March 11 memo sent to senior Pentagon leadership by press secretary Sean Parnell. Signage and promotional materials related to DEI, climate change, and other topics that violate the executive orders must be removed.
On Day One of his presidency, Trump signed an executive order to terminate “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) discrimination in the federal workforce and in federal contracting and spending.”
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Trump’s separate “Unleashing American Energy” executive order established that the administration will focus on “having efficient, reliable, and affordable energy,” rather than on climate-related regulation.
“DoD will cease all communication initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); climate change programs; or topics inconsistent with the President’s executive orders and other policy guidance,” the memo obtained by The Daily Signal reads. “Signage and other promotional materials displayed in DoD facilities or on DoD installations that are inconsistent with the President’s executive orders and policy guidance must be removed.”
One such sign that was deemed to be in violation of Trump’s executive orders reads, “Recycle Today, Tomorrow Depends on It.”
Parnell also ordered principal staff assistants in the office of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other military leaders to review all communication initiatives for alignment with executive orders and Hegseth’s priorities and provide updated guidance.
The Department of Defense did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment.
Since Hegseth was sworn in as secretary of defense, he has made clear that violations of Trump’s orders against DEI would not be tolerated.
“The President’s guidance (lawful orders) is clear: No more DEI at Dept. of Defense,” Hegseth wrote on X.
“The Pentagon will comply, immediately,” he continued in a handwritten letter. “No exceptions, name-changes, or delays.”