1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

I am writing to you today as a constituent, a parent, and a deeply concerned citizen. The recent actions taken by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) to remove instructional materials, books, and discussions of diversity, immigration, gender, and Black history from classrooms worldwide are nothing short of devastating. This directive, issued in compliance with recent executive orders, is an appalling step backward that undermines educational integrity, censors history, and erases the lived experiences of countless individuals. As a military mother, I know firsthand that families stationed overseas have no choice but to enroll their children in DODEA schools. They rely on these institutions to provide a well-rounded, accurate, and comprehensive education. The systematic purging of classroom libraries, the removal of historical discussions, and the banning of student organizations like Pride Club and Women in STEM are deeply troubling. How can we claim to prepare students for the future when we are actively erasing essential aspects of our nation's history and identity? The idea that celebrating diversity and acknowledging historical truths constitutes "radical indoctrination" is both offensive and dangerous. These actions send a clear message to military families and their children—that their identities, their histories, and their experiences do not belong. That their contributions to our nation are inconvenient. That truth must be sanitized to fit a political agenda. This is not the America I want my children to grow up in, nor is it the one my family has sacrificed for. I urge you, as my elected representative, to take immediate action to protect military children’s access to an inclusive and fact-based education. I implore you to push back against these harmful policies, demand accountability from DODEA leadership, and fight to preserve academic freedom in our schools. Our service members fight for the ideals of democracy, truth, and justice—how can we, in good conscience, allow their children to be denied those very principles in their classrooms? I look forward to your response and to seeing you stand up for the rights of military families and their children. Our nation’s commitment to education and diversity must not be abandoned.