Arlington National Cemetery Removes Online Content on Black, Hispanic, and Female Veterans Amid Pentagon DEI Policy Changes

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Arlington National Cemetery has deleted information about notable Black, Hispanic, and female service members, as well as Civil War-related content, from its website. The move aligns with a broader Department of Defense directive to eliminate references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from official platforms.

A cemetery spokesperson confirmed Friday that internal links to webpages highlighting “Notable Graves” of Black, Hispanic, and female veterans—along with their spouses—have been removed. These pages previously featured biographies of distinguished figures such as Gen. Colin L. Powell, the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice on the high court; and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is buried alongside her husband, Army veteran Martin Ginsburg.

The removals follow executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, which banned DEI initiatives in federal programs and contracts. A subsequent Pentagon directive instructed agencies to delete all news articles, photos, and videos that "promote" DEI.

A spokesperson for Arlington National Cemetery stated that the website is being updated to comply with administration policies. “We are proud of our educational content and programming and are working diligently to return removed content in alignment with Department of Defense instruction 5400.17 and executive orders issued by the President,” the spokesperson said. They emphasized the cemetery’s commitment to sharing stories of military service with transparency and professionalism.

Historian Kevin Levin first reported the deletions on his Substack, Civil War Memory, with Task & Purpose later confirming the changes. While some removed pages remain accessible via direct URLs, entire sections on the Civil War and Medal of Honor recipients have been erased. Previously, Arlington’s website offered lesson plans and walking tours on the Civil War; now, only a brief overview remains.

A Pentagon memo from February directed all branches to remove DEI-related content by March 5. The Department of Defense has not responded to requests for comment.