WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has made a decisive announcement regarding one of the most controversial chapters in U.S. military history.

In a video message released this week, Hegseth declared that the Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. soldiers who fought at the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee will not be revoked.

“Under my direction, the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Wounded Knee will keep their medals. This decision is final. Their place in history is settled,” Hegseth said.

The battle, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Lakota Sioux men, women, and children, has long been debated by historians and Native American advocates. Critics have argued that the event was a massacre rather than a battle and that the medals should be rescinded.

Hegseth, however, emphasized his commitment to what he called being “historically correct, not politically correct,” signaling his rejection of efforts to reinterpret the recognition of the soldiers.

The decision is expected to reignite debate among historians, tribal leaders, and veterans' groups.