In a series of executive actions, President Donald Trump rolled back numerous diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal government.
On Jan. 29, independent journalist Ken Klippenstein shared an image on X, formerly Twitter, that appeared to show an internal Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) memo advising staff the agency will be pausing observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pride Month, Holocaust Days of Remembrance and other cultural or historical commemorations until further notice.
“Intelligence officials are starting to leak to me now too. Here’s a memo Defense Intelligence Agency personnel received instructing them to suspend observances including: Holocaust Remembrance Day, MLK Day [and] Juneteenth,” Klippenstein’s post with 5 million views says.
Several VERIFY readers, including Teresa and Laura, asked if the memo is real.
THE QUESTION
Is the Defense Intelligence Agency memo announcing a pause to cultural holiday observances real?
THE SOURCES
- A statement from the Defense Intelligence Agency
- An executive order called “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing” signed by President Donald Trump
- An executive order called “Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions” signed by President Donald Trump
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
THE ANSWER
Yes, the Defense Intelligence Agency memo announcing a pause to cultural holiday observances is real.
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WHAT WE FOUND
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) says a memo pausing all activities and events related to 11 annual cultural or historical holiday observances, including Black History Month, Pride Month and Holocaust Days of Remembrance, is real. The DIA is the Pentagon’s intelligence agency whose mission is to provide intelligence on foreign militaries and their operating environments.
The memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press and confirmed by a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was sent in response to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 executiveorders ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal workforce.
The other annual events listed in the memo are Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National American Indian Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Women’s Equality Day and Women’s History Month.
Somepeopleonline have questioned whether events related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth will also be canceled based on the memo. But the memo says the pause would not affect those federal holidays.
The Associated Press reports that federal agencies have been struggling to interpret Trump’s ban on DEI programs across the government and have taken a broad approach due to a lack of clearer guidance from the White House on how to comply.
“The Defense Intelligence Agency is working with the Department of Defense to fully implement all Executive Orders and Administration guidance in a timely manner,” DIA spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Seth Clarke told VERIFY. “As we receive additional guidance, we will continue to update our internal guidance.”
On Jan. 29, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed staff to create a DEI task force to ensure no DEI programs remain in the Pentagon.
“We’re not joking around,” Hegseth said in an interview with Fox News that same day. “There’s no changing of names or softly manipulating something. DEI is gone.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.