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Arlington National Cemetery has removed information about notable Black, Hispanic, and female service members from its website as part of a broader Defense Department initiative to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) references across military platforms.
A cemetery spokesperson confirmed Friday that internal links to pages highlighting the contributions of diverse veterans and their spouses had been taken down. The affected pages previously included biographies of influential figures such as:
- Gen. Colin L. Powell – First Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Hector Santa Anna – World War II B-17 bomber pilot and career military leader
- Tuskegee Airmen – First Black military aviators in U.S. history
- 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – The only all-Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps unit in WWII
- Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall – First Black justice, buried at Arlington
- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Pioneering women’s rights advocate
Although these biographies are still accessible through alternate internal links, sections dedicated to “African American History,” “Hispanic American History,” and “Women’s History” no longer appear prominently on the website. Instead, the landing pages can only be accessed via direct search or by pasting specific URLs into a browser.
Pentagon Orders DEI Purge Across Military Websites
The changes come after President Donald Trump signed executive orders on his first day in office banning DEI initiatives in federal programs and contracts. In a February memo, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell ordered the removal of all content that “promotes” DEI from Department of Defense (DoD) websites by March 5.
A cemetery spokesperson confirmed that the changes were made to align with DoD Instruction 5400.17 and the President’s executive orders:
“We remain committed to sharing the stories of military service and sacrifice to the nation with transparency and professionalism, while ensuring alignment with administration policies.”
The Pentagon deferred requests for comment to the Army, which declined to elaborate on Arlington’s statement.
Historians and Advocates Decry Erasure of Military Diversity
The removal of educational content has sparked criticism from historians and military advocates, who argue that Arlington National Cemetery serves as an important tool for teaching inclusive American history.
Civil War historian Kevin M. Levin, who first reported the changes on his Substack “Civil War Memory,” called the move “incredibly unfortunate.”
“This is just the kind of history that we want students to be learning—a history that allows students from different backgrounds to make a meaningful connection with one of our sacred sites.”
Raul “Danny” Vargas, founder of the American Latino Veterans Association, condemned the decision:
“While I understand that the administration has decided to shy away from DEI programs and initiatives, we cannot shy away from our nation’s military history.”
Educational Content on Civil War and Medal of Honor Recipients Also Removed
Arlington National Cemetery has also scrubbed educational materials on:
- The Civil War – Previously featured lesson plans and walking tours on the role of U.S. Colored Troops
- Medal of Honor Recipients – Once offered detailed biographies and historical context
- Celebrated Military Units – Including units that faced racial discrimination and unequal treatment
According to Levin, restoring this content won’t be simple:
“People think that with a few clicks you can just return these sites to normal. But I think we’re going to realize just how much we potentially can lose in terms of the work that’s been done and the trust that’s been built over the years.”
A Broader Shift in Military Historical Representation
The changes at Arlington National Cemetery reflect a larger shift in military historical representation under the Trump administration. As the Pentagon continues its systematic rollback of DEI content, historians and veterans’ groups warn of a loss of accessible, inclusive history that honors the full scope of American military service.
