The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Tuesday that the US Military Academy at West Point, along with the Air Force Academy, is removing race-based admissions after settling litigation in favor of merit-based admissions.
Since the election of President Donald Trump to his second term, several US companies and governmental agencies have abandoned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in favor of those that are “merit-based.”
The lawsuit was dropped by Students for Fair Admissions, which sued the academies for violating the Fifth Amendment, after both institutions changed their admission policy.
In a press release, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the goal of the DOJ working with the Department of Defense in order to end DEI at military institutions.
“This Department is committed to eliminating DEI practices throughout the federal government,” Bondi said. “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.”
The DOJ further stated that the policy “changes reflect the judgment of the United States—based on the military’s experience and expertise, and after reviewing the record in this case—that the consideration of race and ethnicity in admissions at the Naval Academy does not promote military cohesiveness, lethality, recruitment, retention, or legitimacy; national security; or any other governmental interest.”
Shortly after his appointment to Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth wrote against DEI hiring practices in a memorandum for leading Pentagon officials.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, as defined in the January 27, 2025, Executive Order, are incompatible with the values of DoD,” he stated. “The DoD will strive to provide merit-based, color-blind, equal opportunities to Service members but will not guarantee or strive for equal outcomes.”
