FORGET NEVER FORGET

Pentagon Agency Pauses Holocaust Remembrance Days and Black History Month

The DIA said it would end “special observations” for 11 holidays and heritage months as federal agencies work to implement executive orders targeting DEI initiatives.

The Defense Intelligence Agency notified its employees that the Pentagon agency will not be observing a slew of holidays and heritage months in order to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive orders, according to an internal memo verified by the Associated Press.

The events affected include Holocaust Days of Remembrance, Juneteenth, Black History Month, Pride Month, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, among others.

The Pentagon agency tasked with analyzing military intelligence issued a memo on Wednesday, as federal agencies work to implement the Trump administration’s sweeping crusade against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government.

The DIA memo said the agency was “working internally and with the [Defense] department” to comply with an executive order Trump signed on his first day in office, which ordered federal agencies to end all DEI “mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear.”

The agency said it was planning to pause its “Special Emphasis Programs,” as well as the “Special Observations” for 11 days and months commemorating women and minorities, including Black History Month in February, Holocaust memorial days, and Pride month in June.

Two federal holidays also made the list—Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. However, the document notes that “the pause will not affect the federal holidays.”

It also indicates the agency will pause its “agency resource groups, affinity groups, and employee networking groups” for the time being.

The memo was first obtained by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein.

The DIA later confirmed the memo’s authenticity in a statement sent to the Daily Beast.

“The Defense Intelligence Agency is working with the Department of Defense to fully implement all Executive Orders and Administration guidance in a timely manner,” A member of the agency’s Communications and Public Affairs Office told the Daily Beast in a statement. “As we receive additional guidance, we will continue to update our internal guidance.”

With Black History Month beginning on Saturday, it’s currently unclear how the federal government will commemorate the month. At her first press briefing on Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she believes the White House “still intends to celebrate” the long-running heritage month.

“As far as I know, this White House certainly still intends to celebrate, and we will continue to celebrate American history and the contributions that all Americans, regardless of race, religion or creed, have made to our great country,” Leavitt told reporters.

However, earlier this week the Wall Street Journal reported that employees at the State Department got a similar message on Monday, encouraging staffers to follow the “spirit” of the DEI executive order. State Department employees are taking this to mean there will be no public facing messaging for the upcoming month, according to the report.

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Zachary FolkFreelance Reporter

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