US Army Deletes Pages on African American and Women’s History from Arlington Website

Submitted by Emily Arendt

April 9, 2025

At a time when the Trump Administration is quickly altering public interpretations of history and removing references to the past on websites and public spaces, it is vital that historians keep track of what is changing. The Early Republic Tracker is dedicated to documenting instances where the federal government is removing facts and stories essential to the public’s understanding American history from public historical sites, museums, websites, and executive agencies.

Where/When did the changes take place?

Arlington National Cemetery website, circa early March 2025

What changed?

Entire sections of educational resources related to the history of women’s and African American military service (including numerous lesson plans and walking tour guides detailing the role of African Americans during the Civil War) were removed from the Education Program page.

Why does the change matter?

Women and African Americans have served the nation in both informal and formal capacities dating back to the American Revolution, and have played a critical role in the history of Arlington (both in its original status as a plantation and since its inception as a cemetery honoring the sacrifice of American service members). Although NPR points out that the unlinked pages can still be found through a web search, failing to highlight the contributions of African American men and women obscures the complexities of American military history and the specific history of Arlington National Cemetery itself.

Website/location/document where change was made?

Arlington National Cemetery Education Program webpage

Evidence of change?

Additional sources?

Ric Murphy and Tim Stephens, Section 27 and Freedman’s Village in Arlington National Cemetery: The African American History of America’s Most Hallowed Ground (2020)