Across the Department of Defense, thousands of photos, stories, and web pages documenting the service of women, Black troops, and other minority members are vanishing. The reason: a sweeping executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January 2025, directing the end of all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal government.

The Pentagon is responding with what many call a digital erasure of military history.

The order triggered an internal scramble. Army and Navy officials began dismantling web pages that celebrated the accomplishments of female service members, from the only museum dedicated to women’s Army contributions to Navy profiles of trailblazing women officers. As of late February, key resources were simply redirected or replaced with error pages, according to the Military Times.

The Pentagon has flagged over 26,000 images for deletion from military websites.

Deleted for Words Like 'Respect' and 'Justice'

An internal Army memo, reviewed by Military.com, reveals that public affairs officers have been ordered to purge any content using a list of 59 flagged keywords — including “diversity,” “dignity,” “culture,” “racism,” “respect,” and “justice.” Many of these words are embedded in the Army’s own core values and in materials documenting milestone achievements by minority service members.

Among those erased is coverage of Kristen Griest, the first woman to graduate from Army Ranger School. Even content marking Black History Month and Women’s History Month was targeted. The military’s former “people first” initiative, launched in response to leadership failures at Fort Hood, has also been scrubbed.

Public affairs officers are not just tasked with deleting new content — they’re combing through years of archived media to remove posts, videos, and images that celebrate service members based on gender, race, or sexual orientation.

The Pentagon has flagged over 26,000 images for deletion from military websites.

26,000 Images Flagged — But the Real Number May Be Higher

A Pentagon database obtained by the Associated Press includes more than 26,000 images flagged for removal. These range from historical photos of the Enola Gay bomber to portraits of the Tuskegee Airmen and Medal of Honor recipients like Pfc. Harold Gonsalves. Officials estimate that up to 100,000 digital assets could ultimately be removed.

Some images were targeted simply because filenames included the word “gay,” such as those documenting Staff Sgt. Krysteena Scales performing pre-flight checks, or Navy training sessions on gender identity. According to NBC News, even marine biology research photos that used the word “gender” were swept into the purge.

Historic photos of the Tuskegee Airmen and Navajo Code Talkers were taken down.

Historic Milestones at Risk of Erasure

Several web pages honoring landmark units and individuals were briefly removed or modified — including content about the WWII-era 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed almost entirely of Japanese American soldiers. Their page was temporarily deleted, then reinstated after public outcry, PBS reports.

The Pentagon defends these actions as compliance with the President’s directive. Spokesman Sean Parnell said the department no longer supports the idea that “diversity is our strength.” But critics argue the deletions represent an intentional whitewashing of American military history.

Veterans and Advocates Speak Out

Richard Brookshire of the Black Veterans Project described the campaign as “a full-throttled attack on Black leadership” and “a clear sign of a new Jim Crow,” in comments to PBS. Others warn of morale and recruitment consequences. Women and Black Americans have been crucial to military readiness, especially amid declining enlistment from other groups, Military.com notes.

Even when mistakenly deleted pages are restored, the broader trend is undeniable. The Department of Defense has abolished its Office of Diversity Management and removed entire sites dedicated to DEI efforts, as confirmed by UPI.

The consequences stretch beyond symbolism. With the erasure of public-facing records, the military loses tools to educate, inspire, and reflect its true history — a history forged by every kind of American.

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