Arlington National Cemetery Removes Pages Honoring Black, Hispanic, and Female Veterans
Arlington National Cemetery has quietly removed educational content and pages from its website that highlighted the history and contributions of Black, Hispanic, and female service members. The missing content included information about Medal of Honor recipients and other notable veterans, raising concerns about a broader effort to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government.
Notable Veterans and Medal of Honor Stories Disappear
Among the deleted webpages were biographies and tributes to trailblazing veterans, such as Gen. Colin Powell, the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and members of the Tuskegee Airmen—the country’s first Black military aviators. Stories about Hector Santa Anna, a decorated World War II bomber pilot, were also taken down.
Even though some information on prominent women like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the “Six Triple Eight” battalion still exists, it’s no longer accessible through the site’s main navigation and must be found through a direct search.
DEI Content Scrubbed After Trump’s Executive Orders
The removal of these pages follows President Donald Trump’s return to office and his aggressive move to eliminate DEI efforts within the military and the broader federal government. Trump has signed multiple executive orders targeting DEI programs since his second term began, echoing his earlier efforts to reshape government institutions.
The Pentagon faced a similar backlash earlier this year when it had to reinstate training materials on the Tuskegee Airmen after public outcry over their removal.
Website Navigation and Key History Sections Missing
Visitors to the cemetery’s website may notice that internal links to major sections like African American History, Hispanic American History, and Women’s History have vanished. The “Notable Graves” section, which previously highlighted the contributions of veterans from historically underrepresented groups, is no longer easily accessible.
A spokesperson for Arlington National Cemetery told The Washington Post that the site is working to restore links and content but also noted that all updates must align with President Trump’s directives and guidance from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran.
Lawmakers and Veterans Speak Out
Critics say the changes are part of a dangerous shift in how military history is presented.
Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called the content removal “deeply concerning.” Speaking to The New York Times, he said, “Even if you have concerns about the way DEI was handled in a number of different places, I’ve never seen a problem within the military.”
President Trump has also removed Gen. CQ Brown—who had supported diversity initiatives—as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing him with a new leadership team aligned with his views. Secretary Hegseth has vowed to eliminate all DEI programs, calling them “woke” and accusing previous leadership of focusing too much on identity politics.
Military Diversity at a Glance
Despite the pushback against DEI, the U.S. military remains a diverse institution. According to the latest Defense Department report, roughly 2 million people serve in the armed forces, with 30% identifying as part of a minority group—including Black, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander service members—and 18% identifying as Hispanic or Latino. Women now make up about one-fifth of active-duty and reserve personnel.
