The Trump administration's ongoing efforts to dismantle federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI) programs have taken a new turn with the removal of a webpage dedicated to Army Maj Gen Charles Calvin Rogers from the US Department of Defense website. Since January 2021, the administration has targeted DEI initiatives, deeming them "illegal," and has moved to eliminate related mandates, policies, and activities across the federal government. This latest development comes in the wake of a US appeals court decision to lift a block on executive orders that aim to end federal support for DEI programs.
The webpage commemorating Maj Gen Rogers, a Black Medal of Honor recipient celebrated for his advocacy for gender and race equality, has been taken down. Instead, the letters "DEI" were added to the site's address. The URL now includes 'DEI medal,' sparking further controversy surrounding the Trump administration's stance on DEI policies.
Rogers, awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon in 1970, was the highest-ranking African American to receive this prestigious award. His courageous service during the Vietnam War, where he was wounded three times while leading the defense of a base, made him a notable figure in military history.
"Army Maj Gen Charles Calvin Rogers served through all of it. As a Black man, he worked for gender and race equality while in the service." – Brandon Friedman
The removal of Rogers' webpage has drawn attention and criticism. Brandon Friedman, highlighting the issue, stated that when searching for Rogers' name online, users encounter a deleted page with a modified URL.
"Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you’ll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include ‘DEI medal,’” – Brandon Friedman
The US defense department has been approached for comment on this matter but has yet to provide a response. The incident underscores the broader controversy surrounding DEI programs under the Trump administration, which has consistently sought to roll back such efforts since assuming office.