Overview:
The Air Force has removed and is reviewing a basic training course featuring videos on the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs to comply with President Trump’s executive order halting DEI programs.
Update: On Sunday, the U.S. Air Force said it will resume instruction of trainees using a video about the first Black airmen in the U.S. military, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, which has passed a review to ensure compliance with President Donald Trump’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The Air Force has temporarily removed and is reviewing a basic military training (BMT) course featuring videos on pioneering Black and female pilots from World War II, including the Tuskegee Airmen and Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order halting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In an internal Air Force message, leaked on the unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco, indicated the immediate adjustment of BMT lesson plans to align with the new DEI guidance. While the videos were not explicitly targeted, classes incorporating diversity materials, such as the “Airmindedness” program, are now under review to ensure compliance with the executive order.

The executive order also mandated the removal of DEI-related content from public platforms, the cancellation of DEI training programs, and the closure of initiatives like barrier analysis working groups, which aimed to expand opportunities for underrepresented groups in the Air Force. The Air Force emphasized its commitment to implementing the directive efficiently and in alignment with national security goals.
The Tuskegee Airmen, known as the Red Tails, and the WASPs are celebrated for their groundbreaking contributions to World War II aviation. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black pilots to serve in combat during military segregation, earning acclaim for their bomber escort missions. The WASPs, meanwhile, ferried aircraft, towed gunnery targets, and trained pilots, filling critical roles as male pilots were deployed overseas. Despite their significant contributions, both groups faced systemic discrimination, with the WASPs only gaining recognition as veterans decades later.
Videos like “Breaking Barriers,” which highlighted the achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen, WASPs, and other milestones in Air Force history, were part of the affected BMT curriculum. While these stories underscore the Air Force’s proud heritage, they are also intertwined with discussions on civil rights, gender equality, and overcoming prejudice—issues now under scrutiny due to the policy changes.