The 596 Books Banned by the Department of Defense

The release of the full list of 596 banned books from Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools confirms what EveryLibrary and free expression advocates have been warning for months: the Trump administration’s censorship of school libraries at base schools is sweeping, ideologically driven, and unconstitutional.

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The list, disclosed under court order in the ACLU's ongoing lawsuit, reveals a deliberate and chilling campaign to erase LGBTQ+ voices, Black and brown histories, and inclusive educational content from schools serving military-connected children.

According to reporting by Military.com, the nearly 600 books removed include Julian Is a Mermaid, Heartstopper, A Is for Activist, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, and Between the World and Me alongside biographies of public figures, AP Psychology guides, and children's books about puberty and identity. This is not merely a review of titles.

This is a coordinated purge of literature that reflects the diverse realities of American families and students.

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“The publication of this list lays bare the political motivations behind this censorship. This isn’t about protecting children. It’s about silencing identities and sanitizing history. Our military families deserve a complete, inclusive, and honest education. And now they need our support more than ever.” John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary.

This action follows EveryLibrary’s early warning and call to action since February 2025, when we launched a petition at action.everylibrary.org/dodschools demanding Congress act to stop DoDEA censorship. To date, over 10,000 people have signed in support of these students and school librarians. 

In April, a group of military families, with the assistance of the ACLU, filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Defense and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

Today, we reaffirm our support for those plaintiffs and the principle that censorship is a violation of First Amendment rights. We are concerned that a DoDEA governed directly by the Trump administration with no local or state-level oversight is a proving ground for policies that could soon sweep across all American public schools.

“DoDEA schools are where the Trump administration’s censorship agenda was first unleashed,” added Chrastka. “There is no school board to vote against this or state legislature to intervene. This lawsuit is necessary, and we admire the families and applaud the ACLU for taking it on.”

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As the ACLU’s lawsuit proceeds, EveryLibrary continues to call for:

• The immediate return of the 596 banned books to DoDEA school library shelves.
  
  
• Full public transparency about the book review process, including who determines what qualifies as “gender ideology” or “divisive equity ideology.”
  
  
• Congressional oversight hearings on whether federal education policies for military families are violating constitutional rights. (Nearly two dozen House Democrats demanded in March that Secretary Hegseth reverse the new guidance on books in DOD schools, saying the Pentagon was “violating the constitutional rights of DoD families.”)
  
  

The country should view this as a clear warning: what is happening at a base school today is what they hope to do in every school district tomorrow. We must continue to support the students, educators, and families who are facing this censorship.

These books reflect the real lives of young people and military families. The Defense Department’s attempts to ban them should alarm every American who believes in free expression, equal protection, and the right to read.

EveryLibrary will continue to stand with students, librarians, and military families at DoDEA schools and beyond until these books are returned to their rightful place on the shelves.

Please join us and send a message to Congress about DoDEA schools and the academies by signing the petition today.