The U.S. Naval Academy has removed more than 400 books from its library this week — including  Holocaust history books and memoirs - after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office ordered the school to get rid of ones that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

For example, among the titles pulled is “Memorializing the Holocaust,” which deals with Holocaust memorials.

Removing such a critical work erases firsthand testimony of one of the darkest chapters in human history — and denies future military leaders the opportunity to learn from it.

“Departmental officials then closely examined the preliminary list to determine which books required removal,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, Navy spokesman. “Nearly 400 books were removed from Nimitz Library to comply with directives outlined in Executive Orders issued by the President.”

This decision not only undermines the values of education, truth, and accountability, but it also sets a dangerous precedent of censorship within a military institution.

We call on the U.S. Naval Academy to immediately reinstate Holocaust history books and other essential works of literature.

Our military academies must prepare leaders with a full understanding of history — not one that’s been sanitized or selectively erased.