A military mother in Kentucky is suing the Pentagon, aiming to protect her children’s right to learn about American history, especially topics related to civil rights and diversity.
Jessica Henninger, whose husband is stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, says recent political changes have affected her children’s education. These changes included the temporary closure of their school library and the removal of certain books from the shelves.
Henninger expressed her concerns about the negative impact of these actions, saying, “There’s a very fine line between making children aware of what’s going on in the world and not overwhelming them with adult matters.” She continued, “When projects like Black History Month are canceled after being completed, children notice.”
Henninger, joined by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), has filed a lawsuit to challenge recent actions taken by the U.S. Department of Defense. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, seeks to block President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at limiting the teaching of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, including those at military bases.
The lawsuit specifically names Henninger’s three school-age children, who are still students at DODEA schools, alongside her two older children who have already graduated. The ACLU argues that recent policies led to the removal of books about slavery, civil rights, and other related subjects at Fort Campbell schools.
Henninger, who moved to Kentucky in October, said she had never experienced this kind of disruption during their years at DODEA schools, despite the family’s frequent moves due to her husband’s military career. She emphasized that education should include a full picture of history, including difficult topics like slavery and the civil rights struggle.
“We owe our children honesty,” Henninger said, stressing the importance of learning about the diverse aspects of American history. “It’s what makes education rich—it’s the differences, the cultures.”
The Impact of Trump’s Executive Orders
In 2020, President Trump issued an executive order banning the teaching of what he called “divisive” ideas, including those that promote the idea of individuals as members of “preferred” or “disfavored” groups. The order also directed the military to shut down DEI offices and led to the removal of certain books in DODEA schools.
According to reports from local media, Fort Campbell librarians were instructed to remove books containing references to slavery, civil rights, and other topics related to diversity. Additionally, Black History Month displays and references to key figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks were also removed from bulletin boards in the schools.
ACLU’s Kentucky legal director, Corey Shapiro, stated that the organization is seeking a preliminary injunction to stop further removals and to ensure that students have access to these important educational resources. He also called for more transparency about which books are being removed and where they are going.
“These books shouldn’t be banned,” Shapiro said. “Children should have access to all books in their school libraries. No government agency should have the power to remove books based on a political agenda.”
Henninger’s Fight for Her Children’s Rights
Henninger said that she became concerned when her children’s teachers began sending notices about canceled assignments and the unexpected closing of their school library. Alarmed, she reached out to the ACLU and joined the lawsuit to protect her children’s education and their constitutional rights.
“I am a voracious reader,” Henninger said. “Reading helped me learn about the world and about people from different backgrounds. My children should have the same opportunity. I could not stand by and let this happen.”
Henninger emphasized that her children love books, and it was painful to see their education disrupted by political orders. “We’ve never had an administration come in and interfere with our children’s education this way,” she said. “My husband serves in the military to defend our rights. To see those rights being taken away from my children was something I could not abide.”
Department of Defense Response
In response to the lawsuit, Michael O’Day, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense Education Activity, said he could not comment on ongoing litigation but praised the agency’s educational standards. The DODEA serves over 67,000 students worldwide, and O’Day highlighted that the system’s curriculum has been ranked highly in national assessments for several years.
However, Henninger believes that the diversity of the student body is a key strength of DODEA schools. “We learn from each other,” she said. “Removing that diversity from my children’s education would be harmful.”
She also argued that the executive orders were politically motivated, citing the Trump administration’s stance on immigration and deportation. Henninger believes the removal of these books is part of a broader effort to limit diverse perspectives in schools.
“We can’t whitewash history,” Henninger said. “My children need to learn the full truth about our country’s history, including the painful parts like slavery and the fight for civil rights. It’s our true history, and it’s essential for their education.”
A Broader Fight for Educational Rights
DODEA schools are often the only option for military families, especially those stationed overseas or in remote areas. Henninger explained that private education is often too expensive, and for many military families, fighting back within the DODEA system is their best option.
The lawsuit also includes plaintiffs from DODEA schools in Virginia, Italy, and Japan. Henninger highlighted the challenges military families face in advocating for their children’s rights, noting the fear of retaliation for speaking out against the system.
“My husband and I discussed the risks of joining this lawsuit, but we ultimately decided we had to do it,” Henninger said. “He joined the military to defend the Constitution. If I can’t defend my children’s rights, then what are we doing here?”
Henninger’s fight is not just about her own children but about the right for all children in military families to have access to a full and honest education. “My children have First Amendment rights, just like any other child,” she said. “They deserve the same opportunities to learn about their country’s history, the good and the bad. That’s what education is all about.”
