West Point And Air Force Academy Permanently End Race-Based Admissions

Two of America’s most prestigious military academies West Point and the Air Force Academy have agreed to permanently abolish race-based admissions policies, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. The change comes as part of a settlement with Students for Fair Admissions, the group that spearheaded the landmark Supreme Court case ending affirmative action in higher education nationwide.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the agreement will cement a merit-only admissions process, ending the use of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) preferences at both 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.”

The settlement resolves two lawsuits brought by Students for Fair Admissions, which argued the academies’ race-based policies violated the Fifth Amendment. Under the agreement, merit will be the sole factor considered in admissions, ensuring a level playing field for all applicants.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York praised the outcome, saying, “Today’s agreement ensures that our future military leaders will carry on the greatness that is born of opportunity, effort, and a level playing field.”

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon also celebrated the victory, posting on X: “Congrats to our [DOJ Civil] Division for their hard work in restoring merit-based admissions to some of our top military academies!”

This is the latest in a series of legal wins for Students for Fair Admissions. In June, the group reached a similar agreement with the U.S. Naval Academy, effectively dismantling DEI-based admissions across all major service academies.

The shift follows President Donald Trump’s January 27 executive order banning race or gender preferences in any branch of the U.S. military. In the order, Trump argued that DEI programs undermine leadership, merit, and unit cohesion, warning they “erode lethality and force readiness” while engaging in unconstitutional discrimination.

With these agreements now in place, West Point, the Air Force Academy, and the Naval Academy will admit future officers based solely on qualifications a decisive break from the DEI-driven policies of recent years.

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