Arlington National Cemetery has removed website content highlighting Black, Hispanic, and female veterans to comply with President Donald Trump’s directive to eliminate references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from federal agencies.
These changes were first highlighted a month ago by Civil War historian Kevin M. Levin in his Substack.
According to a memorandum released by the Pentagon on Feb. 27, the removal was described as a “digital content refresh” ordered by Pentagon leadership.
“The change aligns with broader federal efforts to roll back DEI initiatives in government institutions,” said the memorandum.
One of the removed pages detailed Jackie Robinson’s military service. Arlington restored Robinson’s page following public outcry. However, many other profiles remain absent.
Notable figures no longer featured on the cemetery’s website include: Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., the first African American accepted into the U.S. space program, First Lieutenant Anita Morris, the first Black female chaplain for the National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing, and Major General Marcelite J. Harris, the first Black woman “to achieve the rank of major general in U.S. history.
Leslie Gray Streeter, a columnist for the Baltimore Banner and granddaughter of World War II veteran Edward Streeter said, “The government wants to remove the history of Black vets like my granddaddy.”
Streeter emphasized the importance of honoring our veterans.
“We must say their names. We will not let them die a second time.”
In addition to Arlington’s website, thousands of military images and records disappeared from various Department of Defense platforms.
According to The Guardian, over 26,000 photos of war heroes were either flagged or removed, leaving visitors who search for them with a 404 error message.
Critics say the removals are part of a broader effort to minimize the historical contributions of marginalized groups in the U.S. military.
Kevin Levin, a historian of Civil War memory, voiced concerns about the erasure of these figures from the public record.
“Arlington embodies an incredibly important history for all Americans,” Levin said.
The Arlington Cemetery official website released a follow-up statement saying, “Arlington National Cemetery is updating its website and Education Program to comply with presidential and DOD directives. No service members have been permanently removed from the Notable Graves section.”
Attempting to clarify the situation regarding the removal of service members, the statement said “Profiles previously under categories like African American History, Hispanic American History, and Women’s History are now found in other categories based on their historical contributions.”
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
