IS THE GOVERNMENT IN FACT BANNING BOOKS IN THE US?
There is a lot of talk about banned books
Currently, there are many posts on social media reporting lists of "banned books" in the US. People say that the US government, Trump and even the Project 2025 ban books.
This is fortunately not true at least not yet. It is local schools and libraries that are banning books. However, decisions made by authorities are in direct conflict with freedom of speech. Read how below!
Banning of books takes place mainly in school libraries and other local libraries
Book banning is often related to conservatism, right wing and christian extremism. Books are under profound attack in the United States. In the 2023-2024 school year, PEN America has counted more than 10,000 book bans in public schools.
The challenging of books has increased and the states where it happens, is related to the political majority of the state; Trump-states tend to challenge more titles.
Why do people think that "Trump is banning books"?
Banning happens more among conservatives, right wing and extreme christians so it is related to political convictions, but parties or authorities do not [yet] have an official banning agenda or banning lists.
There are however things happening at political and administration level. In January 2025, the US education department has ended its investigations into book bans and calls the reported book bans a HOAX. It also will not longer employ a book ban coordinator, which was appointed during Biden's presidency.
Remember to be critical when reading news, because government reporting is biased.
What books are challenged?
The books are often famous literature about totalitarian regime such as 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. While this type of literature can be very mind opening and relevant for the current shift of regime, we have not found such an official ban list for the US.
The American Library Association collects information of banned and challenged books in the US.
Work against banning of books
- Report censorship, attempts to ban books to the American Library Association.
- The Association keeps a list of top 10 frequently challenged books and lists the 100 most challenged books by decade. Here is your reading list!
- Join "Unite Against Book Bans", a national initiative to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship.
- The Pen International supports writers and freedom of speech worldwide.