As the Pentagon moved to purge diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from its online platforms, Tara Copp received a database of more than 26,000 photos, webpages, and other materials—while on a flight during vacation.
Copp and Lolita C. Baldor quickly tapped into their source networks to verify the database and began screenshotting, while five additional AP reporters combed through portions of it. Their teamwork allowed AP to identify key themes in the targeted content and preserve records of some of the removed material.
Kevin Vineys built two exclusive, searchable databases, one cataloging the type of content flagged for removal and another showcasing a cross-section of the affected images.
AP’s reporting uncovered that the vast majority of flagged images were of women and people of color and that, in at least one instance, the word “gay” appeared to be the reason a reference to the Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, was flagged for removal.
This collaborative, data-driven investigation delivered a groundbreaking scoop on the Pentagon’s efforts, reinforcing AP’s leadership in exclusive, accountability-driven reporting.
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