WASHINGTON – On March 19, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) — a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs Committees (SVAC) — led a group of her fellow Senate Democratic Veterans, including SASC Ranking Member Jack Reed, SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, in issuing the following joint statement rebuking President Trump and Elon Musk for purging dozens of pages from the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) websites — including the National Arlington Cemetery website — that detail the remarkable histories of great American military heroes:
“Republicans claim they want our military to remain the greatest fighting force in the world — but instead of focusing on improving our military readiness or countering foreign adversaries like China, Donald Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk are waging a pointless, counter-productive culture war that is hurting our military and denigrating the service of American heroes.
“We should be celebrating the heroes who have made our military stronger, allowing them to inspire the next generation to serve and defend our nation. By removing the records of Americans who bravely answered the call to serve our country in uniform, the Trump Administration is worsening our military’s recruitment crisis — discouraging eligible Americans from volunteering to serve and sending a message that their service to our country is not welcomed.
“Trump and Musk are already firing more veterans than any administration in modern history and gutting the VA. Now, they are seeking to erase American military heroes with the click of a button. It’s the latest betrayal from an administration that continues to give the middle finger to our veterans and their life of service.
“As veterans ourselves, we know the Trump Administration can wipe out websites, but it can never erase the accomplishments and bravery of our servicemembers and Veterans. This administration should be ashamed of wasting taxpayer money and precious time attacking American warriors who have earned our respect and honor from their sacrifices to our nation.”
Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq War, is the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, the first woman with a disability elected to Congress, the first female double amputee in the Senate, and the first senator to give birth while in office.
Tokuda Launches Online Petition
Following the Pentagon’s erasure of webpages dedicated to the Japanese American soldiers of World War II, Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) launched a petition drive on Change.org with the following statement:
“I am personally delivering this petition to the secretaries of defense and the Army because we will not stand by while history is rewritten — whether about the 442nd or any other distinguished service group. The Army may have reinstated the webpage, but this should never have happened in the first place. And we must remain vigilant to ensure it never happens again.
“The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was not just the most decorated military unit in U.S. history for its size and length of service — they were family. My grandfather served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), and my uncles served in the 442nd and the 100th Battalion. Their heroism, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty to this country are part of who I am. Their service stands as a testament to the highest ideals of military service and American values.
“The removal of the 442nd’s webpage from the U.S. Army’s website, following an executive order that ended so-called ‘radical’ diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, was deeply disturbing and unacceptable. This decision dishonored the extraordinary sacrifices of the 442nd and attempted to erase a crucial chapter of U.S. military history — one that must be preserved and taught for generations to come.
“Were the brave members of the 442nd radical? Absolutely. They were radically courageous, radically selfless, and radically loyal to a country that had unjustly imprisoned their families, stripping them of freedom and democracy. And still, despite all of that, they fought with unparalleled bravery across Europe, including the legendary rescue of the ‘Lost Battalion’ in France. Their actions were not just a testament to their valor — they were a direct challenge to the racial prejudice they endured.
“And now, to see their contributions erased from official military history once again? That is shameful.
“I am not just speaking as a member of Congress — I am speaking as a granddaughter of a soldier and a descendant of an internee. I cannot and will not allow the honor and legacy of my Issei and Nisei ancestors to be erased.
“While the Army has put the webpage back up, that is not enough. This was never just about a webpage — it was about ensuring that the sacrifices of these brave men are never erased again. The U.S. military must remain true to its history and values.
“We must ‘Go For Broke’ once again — not just to restore what was lost, but to ensure this never happens again. I am demanding that the Department of Defense put safeguards in place so that the history of the 442nd, and all distinguished service groups, is never erased or diminished in the future.”
While the Pentagon has reposted an article about the 442nd in response to the protests, the webpage dedicated to AAPIs in the Army remains offline.