Army and Navy Restore Webpages Honoring Women’s Military Contributions

Military Websites Restored Following Diversity Directive Review

Recently, the Army and Navy took down webpages dedicated to the history of female service members, sparking widespread criticism. These sites, which include the U.S. Army Women’s Museum at Fort Gregg-Adams and the U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command’s webpage, were briefly offline to align with a recent executive order by President Donald Trump targeting diversity initiatives.

This executive order, issued on January 20, mandated federal agencies to assess their policies for compliance, leading to the temporary removal of the Navy’s site, which included “diversity” in its URL, and the Army’s museum page. The Navy quickly reinstated its content with a revised URL following public outcry.

Critics, including retired Navy Cmdr. Jerri Bell, argued that even temporary removal undermines the valor of women who have served. Bell stated, “It implies that the historical achievements of some service members who once faced discrimination and arbitrary limits on their service based on their race, their gender, or their sexual orientation are not worth sharing.”

The executive order led to the closure of the Pentagon’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the removal of associated websites. However, Equal Employment Opportunity offices remain operational, protected by federal anti-discrimination laws.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also halted the observance of “identity months,” such as Women’s History and Black History months, despite the White House continuing to recognize these celebrations. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed, “As far as I know, this White House certainly still intends to celebrate, and we will continue to celebrate American history and the contributions that all Americans, regardless of race, religion, or creed, have made to our great country.”

Women represent nearly 18% of active-duty military personnel and 11% of the veteran community, according to Pew Research Center data. Bell emphasized the importance of recognizing history and heritage months, equating them to celebrating military achievements and milestones.