The U.S. Air Force has started shutting down its diversity, equity, and inclusion offices to comply with President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive action ordering all federal agencies to dismantle their “radical and wasteful” DEI programming, an official told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
In response to Trump’s directive, Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary A. Ashworth authorized the “disestablishment of all Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Groups (DAFBAWGs) effective immediately” in a letter to Air Force leaders circulated on social media and confirmed as authentic to Air & Space Forces Magazine.
DAFBAWGs were established to analyze policies and identify “potential barriers to equal opportunity” for women, Hispanic, black, LGBTQ+, and Native American service members. Since their formation, the DEI-focused taskforces have championed body armor built for the female figure, reimbursing the shipping costs of breast milk amid change-of-station moves, and allowing black Airmen to sport beards in uniform.
As part of a push for “inclusive male grooming” standards, the Black/African American Employment Strategy Team, a DAFBAWG, proposed expanding shaving waivers for black Airmen suffering from razor bumps because black men often experience ingrown hairs “at a higher rate than other racial groups.” DAFBAWGs were also credited with uniform updates permitting pregnant women in the Air Force to wear cold weather gear and ensuring that mothers do not have to salute their bosses at on-base childcare facilities during morning drop-off.
Ashworth’s memo accordingly directed “the cessation of all DAFBAWG activities,” including removing “outward facing media.” […]
— Read More: townhall.com
