COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — The U.S. Air Force has restored several online articles about retired Col. Nicole Malachowski, the first female Thunderbird pilot, after they were previously removed as part of the Trump administration's directive to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion content from military websites.
Malachowski, a Colorado native who served 21 years as a fighter pilot, had her accomplishments documented in multiple articles on military websites before they were taken down at the administration's request.
"I can't believe that something like this is happening in the country whose uniform I wore," Malachowski said.
The decorated veteran expressed how she and other female aviators felt about the removal of their stories.
"For us to turn around and say you're good enough to serve but not good enough to be remembered is a complete slap in the face," Malachowski said.
This is not the first time the Air Force Academy has complied with Trump's executive order over DEI programs. Currently, the Air Force Academy is conducting an audit of courses that the current administration has questioned their need for.
News 5 reached out to the Air Force for comment and is awaiting a response.
This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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