By Trendsetter Tribune 
As of Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the digital presence of General Colin Powell and other notable minority service members at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) remains a subject of intense political debate.
Reports from March 2025 and early 2026 indicate that while Powell’s name has not been completely deleted from the cemetery’s records, his prominence on the website has been significantly altered as part of a broader “scrub” of historical materials.
Key Details of the Removal
The controversy stems from a directive by the Trump administration and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to eliminate “woke” policies and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives from federal agencies.
- Removal of Notable Lists: In March 2025, ANC removed several “Notable Graves” lists from its main navigation menu. These lists specifically highlighted the biographies and burial locations of Black, Hispanic, and female service members.
- The “Search Only” Status: While General Powell’s individual page can still be found using the website’s internal search function, it is no longer featured in curated educational sections or prominent “pioneers” galleries.
- Editing of Descriptions: Reports from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs noted that some entries were edited to remove specific mentions of a service member’s race or their status as a “first” in their field.
The Secretary of War’s Stance
Pete Hegseth, who has overseen the rebranding of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, has defended these moves as a return to “meritocracy” and “lethality.”
- “Honoring Actual History”: Hegseth has argued that highlighting specific demographics “divides the force.” In social media posts, he stated the administration is focused on “honoring American history, not political agendas.”
- Confederate Monument Restoration: Simultaneously, Hegseth authorized $10 million in 2025 to restore a Confederate monument at Arlington that had previously been removed, characterizing the move as “reconciliation.”
Political and Public Reaction
The changes have sparked a “digital war” between the administration and civil rights advocates:
| Group | Stance | Action Taken |
| House Democrats | Strongly Opposed | Filed formal letters (March 2025) demanding the restoration of the “Notable Graves” lists. |
| Pentagon/DHS | Supportive | Enforcing compliance with Executive Orders to “purge DEI” from all military platforms. |
| Veterans Groups | Mixed | Some applaud the “colorblind” approach; others, like the Tuskegee Airmen families, call it an erasure of hard-won recognition. |
How to Find General Powell Today
If you are visiting the Arlington National Cemetery website today, General Powell’s information is located at Section 60, Grave 11917. However, rather than clicking through a “Black History” or “Notable Veterans” portal, you must manually type “Colin Powell” into the site’s search bar to view his burial details and service biography.