US Air Force removes lessons on black WWII pilots from training

Donald Trump's move to block diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has led to the US Air Force reviewing material on the role of black and female pilots during World War Two from its training programmes.

A military official on Saturday said "immediate steps" were taken to remove material to "ensure compliance" with the US president's order, the BBC's US news partner CBS reported.

But on Sunday, military officials clarified that certain curriculum will not be removed from basic military training.

This includes lessons highlighting the Tuskegee airmen and Women Air Force Service Pilots, which will remain in the programme.

Trump signed an executive order banning DEI programmes in the federal government soon after returning to office, fulfilling a pledge he repeatedly made during the campaign.

Trainee troops are shown footage of pioneering servicemen and women as part of DEI courses during basic military training.

Lt. Gen. Brian S. Robinson, an air education and training command commander, said in a statement no trainees missed the lesson, but one group had their lesson delayed because of the review.

The Tuskegee Airmen are a group of around 1,000 black pilots who were trained at a segregated air base in Alabama between 1941 and 1946.

They flew hundreds of patrol and attack missions during the war, escorting American bombing crews over Europe.

Other lessons thought to be at risk included those highlighting the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs.

The female pilots were vital in transporting new planes bound for fighting in Europe from the factories where they were produced. Their contribution was later recognised with the right to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, which is reserved for military personnel.

"The revised training which focuses on the documented historic legacy and decorated valour with which these units and airmen fought for our nation in World War II and beyond will continue on 27 January," Robinson said in a statement.

Women's Airforce Service pilots during training in Texas in May 1943

An Air Force official told CBS News on Saturday: "Immediate steps were taken to remove curriculum that is now under review to ensure compliance with Executive Orders issued by the president.

"Historical videos were interwoven into US Air Force and Space Force curriculum and were not the direct focus of course removal actions. Additional details on curriculum updates will be provided when they're available."

The news frustrated some Republicans.

Alabama Senator Katie Britt, a Republican, took to social media in opposition of the military dropping lessons on the Tuskegee Airmen.

"I have no doubt Secretary Hegseth will correct and get to the bottom of the malicious compliance we've seen in recent days," she wrote in a post on X.

Hours later, Hegseth replied: "Amen! We're all over it senator. This will not stand."

DEI programmes are designed to increase minority participation in the workforce and educate employees about discrimination.

But Trump and other critics say the training is discriminatory because it takes race, gender, sexual identity or other characteristics into consideration.

Earlier this week the Trump administration emailed thousands of federal employees ordering them to report any efforts to "disguise" diversity initiatives in their agencies or face "adverse consequences".

While Trump's executive order is limited to state-funded agencies, several major companies have followed suit, including DEI training being scaled back at Meta and Amazon.