The Trump Administration has banned Julianne Moore’s 2007 children’s book “Freckleface Strawberry” from schools operated by the Department of Defense. Moore shared the news on Instagram, expressing her shock and sadness over the ban. The book, which is a semi-autobiographical story about a seven-year-old girl who dislikes her freckles but eventually learns to live with them, was written by Moore for her children and other kids to remind them that everyone struggles, but are united by their humanity and community.

Moore, a graduate of the DoD-run Frankfurt American High School and daughter of a Vietnam veteran, was particularly saddened by the ban, as she felt that kids like her, growing up with a parent in the service and attending a Department of Defense Education Activity school, would not have access to a book written by someone whose life experience is so similar to their own. The Department of Defense Education Activity has identified several books, including Moore's, to conduct a “compliance review” on, and has relocated them to the professional collection for evaluation with access limited to professional staff. The investigation is meant to ensure that schools under the Department of Defense, which serve US military families, are in compliance with the new executive orders signed by Donald Trump titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” and “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”.

The ban on Moore's book has been met with criticism from several celebrities, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Elizabeth Perkins, who expressed their dismay and shock over the decision. The American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians have also lambasted the guidance as a “shameful censorship” decree that erases history and is designed to “silence the voices of Americans whose lives reflect the diversity of our nation”. PEN America, who alerted Moore to the ban, said in an Instagram post that the removal of these titles is yet another indicator of the new administration's flippant and autocratic approach to K-12 education. The freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right that is being threatened by such actions.

The Department of Defense Education Activity oversees the management of educational programs serving pre-K through 12th grade on behalf of the Department of Defense, operating 161 accredited schools for children of military families. The restrictions on books and learning materials are in response to a pair of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump targeting discussions of the trans community in schools and the "radical indoctrination" of students via DEI, which often focuses on societal representation of marginalized communities. The following are some of the key points related to the ban: * The Department of Defense Education Activity has identified several books, including Moore's, to conduct a “compliance review” on. * The books have been relocated to the professional collection for evaluation with access limited to professional staff. * The investigation is meant to ensure that schools under the Department of Defense are in compliance with the new executive orders signed by Donald Trump. * The ban has been met with criticism from several celebrities and organizations, including the American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians.

The ban on Moore's book is part of a larger crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by the Trump administration. Since taking office, Trump has taken fierce aim at DEI in measures that include an executive order terminating initiatives in the federal government, ordering executive branch agencies to place DEI employees on paid administrative leave, and the impending removal of DEI from the military. The move has been widely criticized, with many arguing that it is an attack on the freedom of speech and expression, and an attempt to silence marginalized voices. The situation is being closely monitored, and it remains to be seen how the ban will affect the availability of Moore's book and other similar titles in Department of Defense schools.