1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The Pentagon's reported removal of over 26,000 images and posts depicting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the military is concerning. Erasing milestones and representations of underrepresented groups risks whitewashing history and undermining efforts towards a more inclusive armed forces. While the reasons behind this purge stem from an executive order to end federal DEI programs, the broad scope of removals appears excessive. Many of the targeted images capture important firsts and achievements by women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ service members that should be preserved, not deleted. Discarding this content promotes an inaccurate, one-sided narrative that fails to reflect the military's actual diversity. A pluralistic society should embrace the multiplicity of identities and experiences that shape its institutions like the military. Removing visual records denies the contributions of entire communities serving their nation. This top-down directive seems misguided and counterproductive to cultivating an environment of mutual understanding. I urge you to reconsider this widespread deletion of DEI content. At minimum, images and records of clear historical significance should be protected and retained. The military belongs to all Americans, and its visual archives should represent that accurately. Erasing parts of this shared heritage does a disservice to the ideals of equality the nation strives to uphold.