Defense Sec Hegseth says Wounded Knee Medal of Honor recipients will keep awards after review

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday night that he had completed a review of U.S. soldiers having received a Medal of Honor award for their respective roles in the 1890 battle at Wounded Knee and determined all recipients can keep the award.

Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, ordered a review last year of the awards, following a congressional recommendation to do so. In 1990, Congress apologized to the descendants of those killed at Wounded Knee but did not revoke the medals, according to the Associated Press. 

Hegseth said the review was completed during Austin's tenure and recommended that the soldiers keep their medals posthumously, but that Austin declined to make a final ruling on the issue.

“Under my direction, we’re making it clear without hesitation that the soldiers who fought in the battle ... will keep their medals, and we’re making it clear that they deserve those medals,” Hegseth said in a video on X. “Such careless inaction has allowed for their distinguished recognition to remain in limbo until now."

An estimated 250 Native Americans died in the battle. The medals were given to 19 soldiers in 1891. 

The modern Oglala Sioux Tribe is expected to release a statement on the decision later Friday.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.