Photo credit: www.npr.org
Arlington National Cemetery has initiated a significant alteration to its online presence by removing historical references to Black, Hispanic, and women veterans from its website. This decision aligns with directives from the Trump administration, which has called for the elimination of language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within federal government communications.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to NPR, indicated that this overhaul is being framed as a “digital content refresh” by senior officials at the Pentagon.
The issue came to light through reporting by Civil War historian Kevin M. Levin on his Substack platform, as well as coverage by Task & Purpose, a publication dedicated to military affairs.
Under this new strategy, any articles, images, and videos that are construed as endorsing DEI principles will be systematically removed from the online repository. Important historical figures like General Colin Powell, recognized as the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the 8666 Postal Corps, noted for being the first group of Black women to serve overseas during World War II, will see their stories downplayed. While their accounts may not be prominently featured, they remain accessible via the website’s search function.
In conjunction with these changes, the Pentagon has identified thousands of images representing diverse veterans that are scheduled for deletion from the website, as reported by the Associated Press.
Source
www.npr.org