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1h ago

Hegseth Declares Wounded Knee Medals of Honor Will Be Retained

He cites a Pentagon review panel’s recommendation to close a long-running dispute over the 1890 awards.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - SEPTEMBER 19: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks during the Department of War 2025 National Prisoner of POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon on September 19, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The POW/MIA Recognition Day honors service members who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in a video Thursday that 20 soldiers recognized for Wounded Knee will keep their Medals of Honor.
  • Hegseth said a five-person panel convened in 2024 under Lloyd Austin recommended retaining the awards, and he criticized Austin for not finalizing the matter.
  • An official from the defense secretary’s office said they could not confirm whether the review panel’s report will be released publicly.
  • Histories and federal estimates describe Wounded Knee as a massacre in which roughly 250 Lakota, including many women and children, were killed, after which 20 medals were awarded to 7th Cavalry soldiers.
  • Advocacy and legislative pushes to revoke the medals continue, including the reintroduced Remove the Stain Act led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Jill Tokuda.