Arlington Cemetery Website Removes Pages on Black Veterans, Women, and Civil War

Arlington National Cemetery Scrubs Online Material on Diversity Amid Controversial Administration Policies

In a surprising move, materials on the Arlington National Cemetery website that focus on the graves of Black and female service members have largely disappeared. This comes as part of a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has been purging government websites of references related to diversity and inclusion, raising concerns among historians and advocates for civil rights.

The affected materials included valuable cemetery guides that highlighted the contributions of Black soldiers, women’s military service, and Civil War veterans. While some of the content was still available online as of Friday, it has become increasingly difficult for interested individuals to navigate to these significant resources through the cemetery’s primary website interface. This situation points to a worrying trend of obscuring important historical narratives.

Particularly alarming is the removal of a section dedicated to segregation and civil rights within the cemetery’s online resources. Previously, this area featured content such as a walking tour specifically focused on Black soldiers and a comprehensive lesson plan on the Reconstruction era. With the recent changes, this valuable educational material has been largely eradicated, prompting concern from scholars and advocacy groups.

The Arlington National Cemetery, which is administered by the U.S. Army, responded to the criticisms with a statement asserting its commitment to “sharing the stories of military service and sacrifice to the nation with transparency and professionalism.” The cemetery indicated that it is actively working to restore links to previously available content, suggesting that essential narratives surrounding military history will once again be accessible to the public.

Kerry Meeker, a spokeswoman for the cemetery, expressed hope for resuming the publication of this critical material soon, stating in a Friday email, “We are hopeful to begin republishing content next week.” This development offers a glimmer of hope, but the context of the changes raises significant questions.

At present, sections of the cemetery’s website still feature active pages dedicated to notable African Americans interred in Arlington. These include prominent figures such as civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and retired General Colin L. Powell. A specific page remains that outlines the graves of African Americans who were freed from slavery, particularly in the cemetery’s Section 27. However, the overall trend of removing or obscuring diversity-related content remains deeply concerning to many.

The Arlington National Cemetery’s commitment to restoring its previously available materials aligns with the Trump administration’s executive orders, which have garnered considerable criticism. These orders focus heavily on eliminating what the administration deems “radical” and “wasteful” government diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Some of President Trump’s official directives have explicitly targeted educational institutions, pushing for a crackdown on what is described as "gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology" in educational contexts.

Critics of these policies, including Representative Adam Smith from Washington, who serves as the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, view the website changes as part of a wider campaign to erase the historical accomplishments of women and people of color within the military. Smith commented, “The whole thing is deeply concerning. Even if you have concerns about the way D.E.I. was handled in several different places, I’ve never seen a problem within the military.” His remarks reflect a broader apprehension regarding the implications of the administration’s decisions on historical recognition and military culture.

Smith also noted that the Department of Defense seems to be embroiled in “fighting cultural fights day in and day out,” warning that the current approach, which appears to be “directly hostile to any kind of diversity,” could have detrimental effects on military recruitment efforts. The military’s swift action in removing references to diversity from its websites since the current administration took office illustrates a potentially harmful trend.

Reports have indicated that the military branches are reevaluating instructional materials related to diversity. For instance, the U.S. Air Force recently paused the use of an instructional video designed to educate trainees about the first Black pilots in the military following a DEI review.

The alterations to Arlington National Cemetery’s website were initially brought to light by Task & Purpose, a military-focused news outlet. The cemetery itself spans 639 acres in Virginia, serving as the final resting place for over 400,000 veterans and holding the title of the largest military cemetery in the United States.

Experts in history, such as Kevin M. Levin, a Civil War historian based in Boston, have voiced their concerns over the erasure of historical content. Levin stated that removing such materials deprives educators of essential tools for engaging students with history. He emphasized the rich historical significance of Arlington National Cemetery, stating, “This is an incredibly rich historical landscape. And to see any of its history either distorted or erased entirely — as an educator and as a historian — it’s incredibly troubling.”

As discussions about diversity and representation in military history continue, the fate of Arlington National Cemetery’s online resources remains critical, both for honoring the past and shaping future understandings of military service in America.