HEGSETH ORDERS END TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN MILITARY ACADEMY ADMISSIONS
Defense Secretary Hegseth has issued an order preventing U.S. military academies from considering race, gender, or ethnicity during their admissions process. This marks the end of affirmative action in relation to the higher education admissions process. The change is part of the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate DEI initiatives across the military. The focus on merit-only military academy admissions signals a departure from the previous administration’s policies that allowed for the consideration of demographic factors.
Hegseth’s Memo Details a Shift to Merit-Based Admissions
In a May 9th memo, Secretary Hegseth's office released a policy that directs U.S. military academies to stop using race, gender, and ethnicity as factors in their admissions processes. In the memo, Hegseth directed schools to consider the applicant holistically, including: athletic ability, past military experience, etc.
He emphasized that this approach, “...ensures only the most qualified candidates are admitted, trained, and ultimately commissioned to lead the finest fighting force in history. Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces.”
He went on to say, “Going forward, MSAs shall rank-order candidates by merit-based scores within each nomination category as described in 10 U.S.C. §§ 7442, 7443, 8454, 8456, 9442, and 9443. It is the Department' s expectation that the highest-ranking candidates within each nomination category should receive appointments.”
The academies have been given a timeline to comply with Hegseth’s order. It is expected to be fully implemented by the 2026 admissions cycle.
Affirmative Action, Removing DEI Initiatives & a Supreme Court Precedent
The new memo released by Hegseth has come nearly two years after the Supreme Court significantly altered the landscape of college admissions.
In 2023, the Supreme Court got rid of affirmative action policies at most colleges. However, Chief Justice John Roberts permitted an exception for military schools, arguing that they held “potentially distinct interests” in continuing the practice.
Following the ruling, several groups initiated legal challenges against military academies. While some lower courts had initially upheld the academies' race-conscious policies, Hegseth's new directive now mandates a change from within the Pentagon.
Hegseth Continues to Target Areas of the Military That Take DEI Into Account
During his time in office, Hegseth has targeted areas of the military that take race and gender into account.
For example, he has cracked down on DEI content being included in military libraries, as well as DEI curriculums being used at military academies. Hegseth has also moved to ban race and sex consideration in relation to military promotions.
When asked about the most recent anti-DEI action Hegseth replied, " The U.S. Service Academies and other defense academic institutions shall teach that America and its founding documents remain the most powerful force for good in human history.”
What Impact Will This Order Have on Military Academy Admissions?
The decision to ban affirmative action is expected to have a significant impact on the admissions process for military academies. Those who support affirmative action have argued that diversity among officers is vital for overall effectiveness.
However, there are concerns that a merit-based system could lead to a decrease in minority representation at academic institutions. There are also concerns that less leadership diversity could negatively impact recruitment efforts.
On the other hand, Hegseth believes that the new policy will strengthen the military by ensuring that only the most qualified candidates are selected. He went on record saying that the Trump administration maintains their commitment to having the highest standards of excellence and readiness in the U.S. military.
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