Pentagon establishes task force to oversee DEI abolishment
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The United States is seeking to abolish all diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in the country as Donald Trump cracks down on identity politics.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., talk after Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon, Monday, January 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
The Pentagon will establish a task force to oversee the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and gender fluidity concepts within the military, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced in a memorandum on Wednesday.
The move follows an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump on January 21, which terminated DEI programs across the federal government.
"I direct the establishment of a multi-functional ‘Restoring America’s Fighting Force’ Task Force charged with overseeing the Department’s efforts to abolish DEI offices and any vestiges of such offices that subvert meritocracy, perpetuate unconstitutional discrimination, and promote radical ideologies related to systemic racism and gender fluidity," Hegseth stated in the memorandum.
The task force is mandated to provide an initial report on actions taken to end DEI initiatives by March 1 and submit a final report by June 1.
Additionally, the memorandum specified that all US defense academic institutions shall now instruct that "America and its founding documents remain the most powerful force for good in human history."
Hegseth reaffirms alliance with 'Israel'
In a separate development, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held his first phone call with Israeli Minister of Security Israel Katz on Wednesday, reaffirming the strong alliance between the two, according to Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot.
"Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held an introductory call today with Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. Secretary Hegseth emphasized that under President Trump’s leadership, the United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself, and that Israel is a model ally for the region," Ullyot said in a statement.
Series of reactionary policies
This crackdown comes in the wake of another crackdown on immigration, as news emerged that US immigration authorities, under the Trump administration, have deported over 4,000 undocumented immigrants in a single week since the raids began, the president's "border czar" Tom Homan stated on Wednesday.
During an interview with NewsNation, Homan said, "We've been at this one week, and we're over 4,000 [deportations], which is amazing."
Homan also announced plans to increase the number of teams involved in raids and deportations, focusing on roughly 700,000 undocumented immigrants with alleged criminal records.
According to media reports, the launch of immigration raids in the United States has led to a noticeable decline in activity at construction sites, shopping centers, and other locations commonly visited by undocumented immigrants.
Trump previously relayed his intentions to significantly intensify immigration enforcement nationwide shortly after his inauguration, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the plans.
"We’re going to be doing operations all across the country," the source told Reuters on Friday. "You’re going to see arrests in New York. You’re going to see arrests in Miami."
