U.S. Army Plans to Reinstall Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery

Plans for Confederate Memorial Restoration

The U.S. Army has presented its final plans to reinstall a Confederate memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Nearly three years after its removal, the memorial is set to return to Section 16 in 2027. This information was reported by ABC News.

During a meeting with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on October 15, the Army outlined how they plan to restore the bronze sculpture. The proposal details the placement, elevation, and installation of the memorial. This new plan comes as the Trump administration pushes forward with reversing its removal, originally mandated in December 2023.

Newsweek contacted Arlington National Cemetery for a comment.

Details of the Army’s Plan

The proposed plans involve returning the bronze sculpture to its original spot in Section 16. This section is where hundreds of Confederate soldiers are buried. The existing granite base will be used, as it remained intact after the bronze elements were dismantled.

The design includes refurbishing the sculpture before its reinstallation. Additionally, interpretive materials will be provided to educate visitors about the historical context of the memorial and its significance.

Reason for Previous Removal

The Confederate memorial was dismantled in December 2023 following a congressional mandate. The mandate required Confederate monuments to be removed from military properties. The Army complied with this directive, undertaking necessary environmental and historic-preservation processes before removing the bronze sculpture.

The Naming Commission played a crucial role in recommending the memorial’s removal. This independent body was tasked with reviewing military assets related to the Confederacy.

The memorial, created by Moses Jacob Ezekiel, stood at Arlington since 1914. Commissioned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, it was dedicated under President Woodrow Wilson. It featured a bronze female figure representing the South and reliefs displaying scenes of Southern life during the Civil War. Critics argue the imagery romanticized the Confederacy while downplaying slavery.

Reinstallation Decision

The decision to reinstall the memorial reflects a policy change under President Trump’s administration. In 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth advocated for its restoration, claiming that removing it sought to erase American history. In a post reported by ABC News, Hegseth stated that “woke lemmings” should not have dismantled the statue.

In July 2025, the Army reached an agreement with Virginia to loan the sculpture to the Center for Military History for display at Arlington, near Ezekiel’s burial site. The Army confirmed plans for comprehensive conservation efforts before the sculpture’s return and the development of educational content for visitors.

The issue of how the U.S. commemorates the Civil War and the Confederacy remains controversial, especially at Arlington, a prominent military cemetery. Supporters of the memorial’s return argue for preservation of history, while critics contend that honoring it overlooks the Confederacy’s foundation on slavery.

Contact for this story at Newsweek: Ben Kelly and Trevor Davies.