Pentagon 'stealthily' pushing DEI in K-12 schools despite public pressure, report shows

WASHINGTON (CITC) — The Pentagon is continuing to covertly include elements of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in its K-12 schools despite public pressure, according to a new report.

In a congressional hearing last year, a Pentagon leader announced the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) would be closing its DEI wing. The announcement followed a range of controversies, including an investigation into DoDEA's first-ever diversity chief over racially charged social media posts.

However, in a report released Thursday, nonprofit OpenTheBooks.com claims instead of being "dismantled," the practices are now "stealthily embedded" into classrooms across the military's K-12 educational arm. DoDEA has spent a combined nearly $6 million since 2019 on education vendors which provide materials related to DEI, according to the report.

One example OpenTheBooks.com points to is a vendor which allegedly provides "private chatrooms" for elementary schoolers to discuss gender identity and sexual orientation "out of parental view." Another vendor allegedly recommends a teacher handbook which encourages discussions about "race, identity and privilege," as well as "the way 'injustice' affects our lives and society."

Adam Andrzejewski, the CEO and founder of OpenTheBooks.com, feels the findings pose a unique challenge for U.S. military families. He noted to Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) Thursday such families often have "little choice" but to send their children to DoDEA schools.

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"It’s one thing when intellectuals in academia create an echo chamber of DEI philosophy and view the world through an oppressor-oppressed model," Andrzejewski said. "It’s quite another to foist this onto the children of our military servicemembers."

"Pushing students into conversations expected to leave them in tears or confrontations is, on its face, a troubling way to treat military families and taxpayer dollars," he continued.

OpenTheBooks.com also alleges the Pentagon is working to hide its DEI efforts by "deleting public access to links" and redacting "the most basic" public records requests. The nonprofit's report claims DoDEA removed online videos of staffers discussing turning "schoolchildren into social justice activists" just days after they were discovered.

"The war on transparency to hide the DEI push ... is multi-leveled and it starts from the top," Andrzejewski told CITC. "It's of critical importance that families and Congress get to the bottom of what's being taught."

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In November, the Pentagon asked for more than $114 million to help fund DEI initiatives. The request was a spike from its ask of $86 million the year prior and followed the Pentagon failing its sixth annual audit in a row.

DoDEA did not immediately respond to CITC's request for comment Thursday. A spokesperson told OpenTheBooks.com the agency "remains committed to maintaining a school system where military-connected students can excel and prepare for success in college and careers and where all employees are treated with dignity and respect."

Have something for the Crisis in the Classroom team to investigate? Call or text the national tip line at 202-417-7273.