J.D. Vance’s Memoir Faces Censorship Review Under Trump’s DEI Ban
Matt Gaetz (left) Vice President-elect JD Vance as they arrived for meetings with Senators at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President J.D. Vance’s critically acclaimed 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, has come under scrutiny in President Donald Trump’s White House, reportedly entangled in a “censorship review” triggered by Trump’s executive order limiting diversity-related concepts in federal institutions.
The bestselling memoir, which was later adapted into a Netflix film, has been included in a list of books flagged for review by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), according to The 19th.
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The DoDEA, responsible for overseeing 161 schools worldwide for children of active-duty U.S. military families and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian families, reportedly pulled over a dozen books, including Hillbilly Elegy, from its shelves pending a compliance review.
While Hillbilly Elegy was not officially banned, officials cited concerns over its inclusion of profanity, “references to LGBTQ+ people and passages celebrating diversity,” according to a report from PEN America, a free speech advocacy group.
“At this time, we are conducting a review,” Jessica Tackaberry, communications director for DoDEA’s Europe region, told The 19th in a statement. “No materials have been permanently removed from our school libraries pending completion of the review. During this period, materials under review will have access limited to professional staff.”
Trump’s executive order prohibits the military from promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives related to race, sex, or “gender ideology.” The order has led to increased scrutiny of educational materials within federally funded institutions.
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Other notable books identified by PEN America in the review process include The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
The review of Hillbilly Elegy, penned by the sitting Vice President, underscores the evolving landscape of federal education policy under Trump’s administration, drawing concerns from free speech advocates and educators alike.
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