Pentagon Faces Backlash Over DEI Content Purge and Restoration Efforts
The Pentagon is currently navigating a controversy following the removal of various historical content related to minority veterans, including pages dedicated to the Navajo Code Talkers and significant events like the Holocaust and 9/11. This purge was part of a broader initiative involving DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies under the Trump administration, which has led to accusations of racial bigotry and the erasure of important military history. Amidst public outcry, the Defense Department has begun to restore some of the deleted content, including acknowledgments of Black and Native American veterans. However, the rationale behind the initial deletions, which officials attribute partly to AI decisions, raises concerns about the narratives being prioritized in military history. Additionally, other notable figures such as female pilots and prominent Black Medal of Honor recipients have also been affected by this controversial content cleanup. As calls for restoration of these vital stories continue, the Pentagon is under scrutiny for how it chooses to present its historical military legacy.
The Associated Press, Department of Defense, Mother Jones, USA TODAY, CNN, Rolling Stone, PBS NewsHour, Arizona Mirror, The Washington Post, NewsNation Now