Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Donald Trump has taken sweeping action to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs from the federal government. Citing “illegal and immoral discrimination,” the administration has not only terminated DEI initiatives but has also removed extensive records and historical references related to minority groups from official websites.
At the Pentagon, the impact has been particularly significant, with a crackdown that includes banning transgender troops from recruitment—though a court has temporarily blocked the move. Additionally, vast archives of documents and images celebrating the contributions of Black, Hispanic, and female military veterans have been removed from the Defense Department’s website.
Civil War historian Kevin M. Levin recently reported that Arlington National Cemetery has also begun erasing records of Black, Hispanic, and female war veterans from its online database. “It’s a sad day when our own military is forced to turn its back on sharing the stories of the brave men and women who have served this country with honor,” Levin wrote. “This insanity must stop.”
Military Heroes Erased from Pentagon Archives
The Pentagon’s removal of historical content has included references to war heroes, pioneering military figures, and prominent African Americans. According to records obtained by the Associated Press, over 26,000 items were marked for deletion, including stories on:
- The Navajo “Code Talkers” – Indigenous servicemen whose unique language helped secure U.S. victories in World War II.
- The Tuskegee Airmen – The first African American military aviators.
- Jackie Robinson – A baseball legend and military veteran.
- The Enola Gay – The aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb, reportedly flagged due to digital filters linking its name to LGBTQ+ terms.
The Pentagon has defended these actions, stating that it does not view individuals “through the prism of immutable characteristics.” Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot reinforced this stance, saying, “(DEI) is a form of woke cultural Marxism that divides the force, erodes unit cohesion, and interferes with the services’ core warfighting mission.”
In rare cases, content was reinstated—such as articles on Jackie Robinson and the Navajo “Code Talkers”—but the Pentagon stood by its overall purge.
Native American Descendants Outraged Over Erased History
Families of the Navajo “Code Talkers” have expressed outrage over the removal of historical records. Zonnie Gorman, daughter of veteran Carl Gorman, said the decision felt like an attempt to erase the contributions of people of color.
“I definitely see it as an attempt to erase the history of people of color in general,” she stated. Gorman’s father was one of the young Navajo men recruited in 1942 to use their Indigenous language as an unbreakable wartime code. Their efforts were instrumental in U.S. victories in the Pacific, including the Battle of Iwo Jima.
“For us, as Indigenous people, the ‘Code Talkers’ story was a moment of recognition,” Gorman added. “And now, this feels like a slap in the face.”
Corporate America Follows Government’s Lead
Trump’s anti-DEI stance has extended beyond federal agencies, influencing major corporations. Companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and McDonald’s have significantly scaled back or eliminated their DEI programs in recent months.
According to the New York Times, the number of S&P 500 companies mentioning “diversity, equity, and inclusion” in corporate filings has declined by nearly 60% compared to 2024.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has strongly condemned these developments, calling the administration’s actions a “‘shock and awe’ approach that upends longstanding, bipartisan federal policy meant to open doors that had been unfairly closed.”
Racial Justice Advocates Raise Alarm
The dismantling of DEI programs has raised concerns among civil rights groups, who fear it could undo decades of progress in racial justice. Many of these programs stem from the civil rights movement of the 1960s, which fought against systemic discrimination that persisted even after the abolition of slavery in 1865.
Despite progress, official data shows that Black Americans and other minorities continue to face disproportionately high rates of police violence, incarceration, poverty, homelessness, and hate crimes.
As Trump’s administration continues its efforts to reshape federal policies, the debate over diversity and inclusion in government and the private sector remains more contentious than ever.
