The United States Department of Justice has recently declared a settlement with the Students for Fair Admissions Inc.
(SFFA), effectively putting an end to race-based admissions practices at two of the nation's most prestigious military academies, the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Air Force Academy.
This agreement resolves two lawsuits initiated by the SFFA, which claimed that these policies were in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Consequently, both cases have been dismissed.
According to The Post Millennial, Attorney General Pamela Bondi lauded the settlement, viewing it as a significant stride in the broader campaign to eradicate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices from federal institutions. "This Department is committed to eliminating DEI practices throughout the federal government," Bondi stated.
"We are proud to partner with the Department of Defense to permanently end race-based admissions at West Point and the Air Force Academy - admission to these prestigious military institutions should be based exclusively on merit."
Echoing Bondi's sentiment, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York underscored the importance of equal opportunity as a fundamental American value. "Todays agreement ensures that our future military leaders will carry on the greatness that is born of opportunity, effort, and a level playing field," Clayton affirmed.
This settlement not only circumvents the need for protracted litigation but also establishes mutually agreed terms to guarantee that admission to these service academies will be determined solely by merit, irrespective of race or ethnicity. This agreement mirrors a similar one reached earlier this year in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit concerning the U.S. Naval Academys former race-conscious admissions policies.
This announcement arrives amidst ongoing discussions over cultural, ideological, and policy shifts within Americas military academies. In 2024, West Point officials confirmed their decision to remove the historic motto Duty, Honor, Country from the academys mission statement. Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland justified the change, stating that after an extensive review with internal and external stakeholders, the academy decided to update its vision, mission, and strategy.
Despite reassurances that the phrase still defines who we are and remains central to the cadet experience, the revision was met with criticism from alumni who perceived it as a departure from tradition.
In 2021, Air Force Academy professor Lynne Chandler Garca penned a Washington Post op-ed defending the inclusion of critical race theory (CRT) in military education. Garca contended that CRT provides an academic framework to comprehend structural racism and inequality in U.S. history and aids cadets in devising solutions for a more equitable society. She insisted that such instruction is patriotic and offers a more comprehensive, accurate account of Americas past without fostering division among service members.
Garca's remarks ignited a backlash from several lawmakers, including Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), a West Point graduate, who demanded her resignation in a letter to Air Force Secretary John Roth.
Green accused Garca of endorsing an ideology that undermines the Constitution, erodes morale, and threatens unit cohesion. He argued that teaching future officers that the United States is fundamentally racist could negatively impact recruitment and retention.
Critical race theory teaches that the only way to right past racial discrimination is with present racial discrimination, Green wrote. That is incompatible with our founding principles and the Civil Rights Movement, and it is illegal.
With the conclusion of this settlement, the Justice Department has now addressed race-based admissions at all three major U.S. service academies, aligning them with the principle that merit, not race or ethnicity, should be the determining factor for entry.
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