An annual event put on by members of Congress to honor fallen servicewomen was canceled this year after the Navy, Air Force and Space Force bowed out, citing Pentagon and White House policies on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Other branches either didn’t respond to the invite or cited scheduling conflicts.
The Bipartisan Women’s Caucus’ 28th annual wreath-laying ceremony is typically held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The Democratic Women’s Caucus announced the cancellation on Monday.
A spokesperson with the Democratic half of the caucus told Task & Purpose that the Navy and the Air Force (answering for the Space Force) declined to participate due to White House and Department of Defense policies that bar participation in diversity, equity and inclusion or identity-related celebrations. The Army cited scheduling conflicts with the service’s birthday, but the spokesperson for the Democratic said it “had never been an issue prohibiting them from participating before.” The Marine Corps did not respond to the invitation.
A spokesperson for the Democratic Women’s Caucus said that “the branches have historically been supportive of the event.”
An Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Task & Purpose that the service declined to participate “in compliance” with a January 2025 Executive Order on eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies across the military and Department of Defense-issued guidance that directs the services to not use official resources to “host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months.”
Army and Marine Corps officials did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication. Navy officials declined to comment and directed Task & Purpose to the Department of Defense. Department of Defense officials referred Task & Purpose back to the individual services.
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Instead of the wreath-laying event, members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus held a press conference on the Hill Wednesday morning. The vice chair of the caucus, Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), said the annual Arlington event is done to honor the service of women veterans, which should not be controversial.
“Their contributions are a part of American history, and we should be expanding opportunities to recognize that service, not restricting it,” Sykes said. “It comes just days before Women’s Veterans Recognition Day, which is actually tomorrow, a day specifically set aside to recognize the contributions of women who have served our country. Instead of preparing to celebrate these women, we are here explaining why a ceremony dedicated to honoring them was effectively canceled.”
The ceremony was originally scheduled for May 20, but the event was postponed to June 10 due to congressional voting, the Democratic Women’s Caucus spokesperson told Task & Purpose.
A spokesperson for Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas), who co-chairs the bipartisan caucus and represents Republican members, said the congresswoman planned to attend the Arlington event and give remarks until it was canceled.
At the press conference, veterans who currently serve in Congress also made it a point to address the larger politics that women in the services face, referencing news reports of servicewomen being held back in officer promotions, and Pentagon-issued studies designed to look into women’s “effectiveness” in combat jobs.
“Today’s cancellation is not happening in isolation,” Rep. Chrissy Houlihan (D-Penn.), a former Air Force officer, said. “For months we’ve been watching women’s contributions to our military be questioned, be diminished, and be erased. We’ve seen accomplishments that women leaders have had being removed or demoted. We’ve seen programs supporting servicewomen dismantled, and we’ve seen the false suggestion that women who have met every single military standard somehow still do not belong.”
