Defense Dept. Schools Pause STEM Club for Girls and Pride Clubs

At Lakenheath High School, a U.S. military base school in Britain, the gay students’ club and its allies can no longer meet, and the Women in STEM group has also been temporarily suspended.

Similarly, at Ramstein High School in Germany, student groups representing Hispanic and Asian communities, along with the Pride and Ally club, have had their activities halted.

Across the globe, in schools catering to military families, books are now under review due to directives from the Trump administration targeting gender identity and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

While few U.S. school districts have made significant changes in response to these federal orders, the Department of Defense (DoD) school system—serving around 67,000 students on military bases worldwide—stands out. As part of the federal government, DoD schools have quickly moved to implement these new policies.

In addition to the suspension of certain affinity groups related to gender and race, as well as reviews of specific books, Pride decorations have been removed, and Black History Month events have been canceled. These changes have been confirmed through interviews with students, parents, and a memo from the Defense Department.

This represents a stark departure for a school system that has typically remained apart from political controversies in education, one that has often been praised for its high academic standards, particularly in math and reading.

The DoD operates schools globally, including on U.S. military bases in countries such as Japan and Belgium. The student body, much like the military itself, is diverse in terms of race and socioeconomic background. The system’s origins trace back to the American South, where it was established to serve children of military families during a time when local schools remained segregated.

“Diversity is the heart of our schools,” said Kadyn, a 16-year-old junior at Lakenheath High School, who asked to be identified by his first name for privacy reasons. “We are seeing things that were once celebrated, like the ‘All Are Welcome’ signs with rainbow flags and Black Lives Matter symbols, being taken down,” he added. “It feels like we’re losing what made our schools so great.”

Will Griffin, a spokesperson for DoD schools, explained that the school system was reviewing its policies to align with directives from President Trump and his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. These directives called for an end to cultural awareness months, such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month, during Hegseth’s early days in office.

While students retain the right to participate in student-led clubs, Griffin noted that teachers—who are federal employees—are required to supervise these clubs, and they too are subject to the new regulations.

It is possible, Griffin added, that these student groups could resume under a teacher’s unpaid supervision.

“We are committed to continuing to provide a high-quality education for military-connected students to ensure they are well-prepared for college, careers, and life,” he said.

A memo issued on February 5th by DoD officials instructed schools to avoid using certain materials, including the book Becoming Nicole, which tells the story of a transgender girl and her family, and was previously part of the independent reading list for grades 6-12. The biography of Albert Cashier, a Union soldier who was born female but lived and fought as a man, was also among the books under review, as was some material in Advanced Placement Psychology courses on gender identity and sexuality.

The new directives have led to confusion as principals and educators interpret the guidelines, while librarians across more than 100 schools worldwide review their collections.

Julianne Moore, the actress, sparked public attention when she shared that her book Freckleface Strawberry, a children’s book about embracing differences, had been removed for review. Moore, who attended a DoD high school in Frankfurt, expressed her surprise on Instagram. However, as of this week, the book is once again available for checkout, according to Griffin. He clarified that most of the books under review were not part of the official curriculum but were supplementary materials found in classrooms or libraries.

One parent, Allie Allen, whose children attend DoD schools in Stuttgart, Germany, shared that while the school principal assured her that books about figures like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would not be removed, materials referencing Black History Month could be.

“There’s no clear guidance,” Allen said.

Students, too, are left in uncertainty. Sophia Carey, a 16-year-old junior at a DoD school in Germany, had planned to establish a girls’ club for Women’s History Month, featuring female guest speakers from military and scientific fields. The club would also have worked on a community project providing feminine products in local bathrooms. But the challenge of finding a teacher willing to supervise the group has left her plans in limbo.

“Everything feels so uncertain right now,” Carey said.