- West Point dissolved 4 engineering/cultural student groups in February
- 361 books temporarily removed from Naval Academy libraries
- 2 planned protests during graduation ceremony
- Administration replaced all military academy leadership in 2025
President Donald Trump prepares to address West Point's graduating class amid escalating tensions over diversity program reforms. The administration's February 2025 memorandum eliminated longstanding student organizations at the Army's premier training institution, including groups representing Black engineers and Native American cultural heritage.
Defense Department data reveals 57% of military academy faculty oppose recent DEI restrictions, according to internal surveys obtained through FOIA requests. This policy shift follows Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's claims of 'woke ideology infiltration' - accusations repeatedly disputed by retired generals like David Petraeus in congressional testimony.
The Naval Academy's library controversy highlights regional disparities in policy implementation. While Annapolis initially removed 381 titles, Maryland's state legislature allocated $2.4 million to preserve banned books at public universities - creating a stark contrast with federal military institutions. Similar patterns emerged in Texas academies, where state-funded programs maintained DEI initiatives despite Pentagon directives.
Historical analysis shows military academy diversity programs increased minority officer retention by 17% between 2010-2020. Current White House staffers privately acknowledge concerns about recruitment impacts, particularly as Asian-American enlistment rates dropped 8% since 2023 policy announcements.
Security officials anticipate heightened tensions during Saturday's ceremony, with organizers planning both land and river-based demonstrations. The graduated class of 2025 represents West Point's most diverse cohort in history - 34% non-white cadets compared to 28% in 2020 when Trump last spoke at the academy.
Critics argue the administration's approach contradicts military strategic needs. Retired Admiral Mike Mullen noted in a Foreign Affairs essay: 'Modern asymmetric warfare requires cultural fluency that diversity programs enhance.' Conversely, Heritage Foundation analysts praise the reforms as necessary to 'refocus on combat readiness over social engineering.'
As Trump takes the podium, observers will watch for policy signals affecting 1.3 million active-duty personnel. The speech comes as Pentagon budgets face scrutiny, with proposed $2.1 billion cuts to diversity training programs offset by increased drone warfare spending.