Trump Administration's Executive Action Sparks Controversy at National Cryptologic Museum
The National Cryptologic Museum faced criticism for covering up displays honoring marginalized groups due to Trump's anti-diversity directive. Former NSA employees expressed outrage over this decision, prompting museum leadership to clarify intentions.
The National Cryptologic Museum has faced backlash after staff were instructed to cover displays honoring women and people of color in response to President Donald Trump's executive action aimed at eliminating diversity initiatives.
This censorship resulted from Trump's directive to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across federal agencies, creating confusion within various government departments, including the museum, according to NPR.
Confusion escalated to the point where brown paper was placed over the plaques in the Hall of Honor recognizing "Trailblazers in U.S. Cryptologic History." The museum has since admitted to this action and, in a recent social media post, described it as a "mistake."
Response from former NSA employees has been particularly critical. Larry Pfeiffer, a former NSA employee, expressed his disbelief, stating, "My jaw dropped, my eyes bulged." Another retired employee, Rob Johnson, voiced his outrage directly to museum staff, stressing the importance of not erasing history amid administration policies.
Sheila Thomas, the NSA Executive Director, acknowledged the incident in a phone interview with NPR. She clarified that the intention was never to obscure parts of history, emphasizing that as soon as the agency became aware of the situation, they acted to correct it.
