DEI Policies CRUSHED: Merit Prevails At Top Academies

The Trump administration’s new settlement permanently bans race-based admissions at America’s top military academies, marking a decisive victory for merit and constitutional principle after years of divisive DEI mandates.

Story Snapshot

• DOJ settlement ends all race-based admissions at West Point and the Air Force Academy, enforcing exclusive merit-based selection.
• Military academies lose their exemption from the Supreme Court’s 2022 affirmative action ban, aligning with civilian colleges.
• The agreement resolves lawsuits by Students for Fair Admissions, a conservative group that drove nationwide challenges to DEI policies.
• This permanent policy shift symbolizes a broader rollback of federal DEI initiatives, echoing widespread conservative demands for fairness and constitutional governance.

Settlement Ends Race-Based Admissions at Military Academies

The U.S. Department of Justice, under President Trump, announced on August 12, 2025, a landmark settlement that bars the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy from considering race in their admissions processes. Legal historian Peter Wood noted that the change ends decades of DEI-influenced admissions protocols at the academies. The settlement directly responds to lawsuits filed by Students for Fair Admissions, the group instrumental in the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision against affirmative action at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

The military academies had previously defended race-based preferences, arguing that a diverse officer corps was essential for national security. However, following the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling against affirmative action in civilian higher education, these federal institutions became a primary focus for conservative legal action. The Trump administration’s decision to settle marks a sharp policy reversal from the Biden era, which had defended DEI on grounds of military readiness and diversity. The move brings the academies in line with the new national standard established for all public universities and federal agencies.

Lawsuits and Legal Pressure Drive Policy Change

After the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in 2022, Students for Fair Admissions quickly targeted the remaining exemption enjoyed by military academies. Their lawsuits argued that all federal institutions should be bound by the same constitutional standards, regardless of sector. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the administration embraced the view that admissions “should be based exclusively on merit.” The Department of Defense, as a party to the agreement, is now responsible for revising admissions protocols at both academies to ensure compliance and eliminate race as a factor.

Attorney General Bondi and U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized that the settlement ensures fairness and opportunity for all applicants, reinforcing the principle that leadership in the military should be earned, not given based on identity categories. The lawsuits by Students for Fair Admissions have now been dropped as part of the agreement, reflecting the administration’s commitment to ending all forms of race-conscious selection in federal institutions.

Broader Conservative Push Against DEI Policies

This settlement is part of a much wider rollback of DEI initiatives across government and education under President Trump. The decision is immediate and permanent, signaling to other federal academies and agencies that race-based preferences are no longer protected or tolerated. Supporters of the settlement, including Students for Fair Admissions president Edward Blum, characterized prior DEI policies as divisive and unfair.

Trump Justice Dept. reaches agreement barring race-based admissions at West Point, Air Force Academy – https://t.co/mAv7bOzUDJ – @washtimes

— Chris Scott maricopa county (@ChrissyScott777) August 13, 2025

Critics, particularly civil rights advocates and some military leaders, warn that ending race-conscious admissions could reduce diversity and potentially impact unit cohesion. However, supporters argue that fairness, public trust, and military effectiveness are best served by ensuring admissions are open to all, without racial preference. The settlement is likely to catalyze further challenges to DEI policies throughout federal agencies, and may prompt other institutions to proactively shift toward colorblind practices.

Potential Impacts and National Significance

The immediate effect is a shift in how West Point and the Air Force Academy select future officers, with admissions now strictly merit-based. Retired Army Colonel and military policy analyst Douglas Macgregor said the change could reshape the military leadership pipeline and invite further legal challenges to DEI programs across federal agencies. This move resonates with the conservative base, who have long demanded an end to what they see as unconstitutional government overreach, identity quotas, and the erosion of American values in federal institutions.

Sources:

Trump Justice Dept. reaches agreement barring race-based admissions at West Point, Air Force Academy
West Point, Air Force Academy must end race-based admissions after DOJ settlement
Trump ends race-conscious admissions at West Point, Air Force Academy
Justice Department Settles Lawsuits Challenging Race-Based Admissions at West Point and Air Force Academy