WASHINGTON – On Friday, the Trump White House announced the recognition of February as Black History Month, while around the same time, the Defense Department released guidance stating that “identity months” are no longer relevant.
These contrasting announcements coincide with President Donald Trump’s recent actions aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs since the beginning of his term. Trump has critiqued DEI initiatives as forms of “discrimination” and has argued in favor of transitioning towards a merit-based society.
The White House’s proclamation urges “public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States” to commemorate this month through appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, without specifying what “appropriate” entails.
A news release from the Defense Department titled “Identity Months Dead at DOD” says official resources, including working hours, will no longer be used to mark cultural awareness months. Black History Month, Women’s History Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month were among the events listed as now barred.
“We are proud of our warriors and their history, but we will focus on the character of their service instead of their immutable characteristics,” the Defense Department release read.
In his first two weeks in office, Trump has moved to end affirmative action in federal contracting and directed that all federal DEI workers be put on paid leave before eventually being laid off. On Thursday, hours after a midair collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines plane killed 67 people just miles from the White House, Trump baselessly blamed diversity initiatives for undermining air safety, despite no evidence of that.
Gerald Ford in 1976 became the first president to issue a message recognizing February as Black History Month. Since then, presidents have made annual proclamations marking the month as a celebration of Black history, culture and education.
Trump’s proclamation Friday specifically noted the contributions of abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, conservative economist Thomas Sowell and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. It said their achievements “have monumentally advanced the tradition of equality under the law in our great country” and are a continued inspiration.
The declaration also listed golfer Tiger Woods as an American great, saying he was among those who have “pushed the boundaries of excellence in their respective fields, paving the way for others to follow.”
“This National Black History Month, as America prepares to enter a historic Golden Age,” the proclamation said, “I want to extend my tremendous gratitude to black Americans for all they have done to bring us to this moment, and for the many future contributions they will make as we advance into a future of limitless possibility under my Administration.”
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