The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has started restricting books in schools that serve military families worldwide. The restrictions include Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore’s children’s book, “Freckleface Strawberry.” These actions are part of a thorough review of educational materials, which has spurred extensive debate among educators and civil rights groups.

In an Instagram post on Sunday, February 16, 2025, Moore expressed her surprise at the Trump administration’s ban of her first book from schools under the Department of Defense.

Moore, a 2015 Academy Award winner for her role in “Still Alice,” authored “Freckleface Strawberry” in 2007. The narrative follows a seven-year-old girl grappling with insecurity about her freckles and her unsuccessful attempts to hide or remove them. Ultimately, she accepts her freckles as an integral part of her identity, emphasizing the idea that differences should be embraced, not hidden.

The review responds to President Donald Trump’s executive orders for federal institutions’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on January 26, 2025 that the Department of Defense would cease all DEI programming to align with Trump’s Inauguration Day executive order, which resulted in the closure of DEI offices in the federal government.

The DoDEA, responsible for educating approximately 67,000 children in 160 schools worldwide, released a statement explaining its stance. It is reevaluating its policies and instructional materials following recent executive orders and updated guidance from the Department of Defense. The DoDEA emphasized that no materials have been permanently removed from school libraries as the review is ongoing. However, any materials under review will be temporarily restricted, with access limited to professional staff until a final decision is made.

The nonprofit organization PEN America criticized the removal of Moore’s book and others, viewing it as a sign of the new administration’s arbitrary and autocratic approach to K-12 education. Other affected books include “No Truth Without Ruth,” about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and “Becoming Nicole,” about a transgender actor.

A directive issued on February 5 mandated the removal of all books containing “gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology.” Teachers have been instructed to review their classroom books, including personal collections, for any materials that might violate the executive order. The directive also includes the removal of pronouns from email signatures and the cancellation of cultural observances like Black History Month.

The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians have denounced these actions, claiming they infringe on the First Amendment rights of military personnel and their families by censoring legitimate viewpoints. They have called upon Americans to protect libraries, particularly those in schools on military bases and public and academic institutions nationwide. The ALA’s campaign aims to safeguard library access, uphold intellectual freedom, and protect the rights of library professionals from censorship.

Moore’s personal connection to military education adds a poignant layer to the controversy. She is an alumna of Frankfurt American High School, a now-defunct Department of Defense school in Germany. Her father, a Vietnam veteran, devoted his career to the U.S. Army, instilling a deep respect for service and sacrifice in her. Moore has expressed her shock and disappointment, emphasizing her strong ties to the military community and the personal impact of her book’s removal from these schools.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized the restrictions, claiming they undermine the diverse and comprehensive education that DoDEA traditionally provides to military families. The Department of Education recently dismissed 11 complaints about book bans it received during the Biden administration, labeling them as “meritless” and based on a “dubious legal theory.”

These restrictions form part of a broader initiative by the Defense Department to reduce diversity programs and refocus on what Secretary Hegseth describes as promoting “unity” over “diversity.” Schools had until February 18 to comply with the directive, which also mandates updated signage and the removal of posters featuring historical women and people of color.