1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The release of the full list of 596 banned books from Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools confirms what 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. 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, 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. Please call for: - the immediate return of the 596 banned books to DoDEA school library shelves, and - a congressional oversight hearing on whether federal education policies for military families are violating constitutional rights. This is a clear warning: what is happening at a base school today is what the administration hopes to do in every school district tomorrow. Please 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. Please take a stand for free speech and parents' rights to have their children read books that reflect their experience and represent them and their history accurately. Call for a congressional oversight hearing on this censorship!