The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently deleted, then restored, an article about Jackie Robinson’s World War II military service. This removal took place amidst a larger effort to purge material on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from official channels, in compliance with Trump-era directives.
Initial Removal of the Article
Part of the Department of Defense’s “Sports Heroes Who Served” series, the article detailed Robinson’s World War II service as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In particular, it told of a time when Robinson refused to take a seat in the back of a segregated Army bus in 1944 and was subsequently court-martialed, for which he was acquitted. That act of disobedience foreshadowed his groundbreaking role in desegregating Major League Baseball in 1947.
The deletion was done as part of an “all-encompassing digital content refresh” targeting the removal of DEI-associated materials. The users were given a “Page Not Found” message upon trying to view the article, the URL having been changed to add “dei” in a designation as being DEI content.
Public and Institutional Response
The removal of the article was met with widespread criticism from the public and media. Their argument was that removing this type of content reduces the acknowledgment of the special struggles and contributions of minority veterans. David Robinson, who is both the son of Jackie Robinson and a member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation board, spoke in surprise and disappointment about the deletion, citing the significance of remembering his father’s double legacy as both a soldier and sports legend.
Pentagon’s Clarification and Restoration
To counter the backlash, Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot released a statement claiming that the DoD respects individuals such as Jackie Robinson, the Navajo Code Talkers, and the Tuskegee Airmen for their service. He reiterated that the department respects these individuals for their patriotism and commitment, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. Ullyot also called DEI “Discriminatory Equity Ideology,” implying that it “divides” and “erodes” unit cohesion.
After the statement, the DoD put back the article to its original URL, recognizing that its deletion could have been an overstep in trying to get rid of DEI material. The Pentagon did not indicate whether the deletion was intentional or not but stated that in exceptional circumstances where material is accidentally deleted, redressal steps are taken to put it back.
Broader Implications
This is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back DEI programs in federal agencies. The executive order requires that content viewed as advancing DEI be eliminated, resulting in the removal of many articles celebrating the contributions of minority troops. Opponents claim this effort has the potential to eliminate important elements of military history and erase the recognition of the diverse origins that have enriched the U.S. military.
The removal and later restoration of the Jackie Robinson article highlight the intricacies of maintaining directives to remove DEI content against the need to commemorate and properly reflect the diverse past of the U.S. military. In the face of ongoing DoD content review, there is the challenge of maintaining the legacies of individuals such as Robinson while conforming to changing administrative policies.
