A landmark decision was announced today: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy will permanently end race-based admissions. The Justice Department reached this settlement with Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), resulting in the dismissal of two lawsuits that challenged affirmative action policies at these institutions. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that admissions should be “based exclusively on merit,” not on race or ethnicity.
The agreement ensures that future cadets will be selected through a truly colorblind process. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton called the outcome a reaffirmation of America’s commitment to equal opportunity, effort, and a level playing field.
This shift follows an earlier resolution affecting all three service academies. The U.S. Naval Academy previously ceased considering race or sex in admissions following President Trump’s executive order issued on January 27, 2025. Vice Admiral Yvette Davids enforced the new directive in February, bringing the institution into alignment with the broader merit-based approach.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced this policy in May 2025, issuing directives for all U.S. military academies to eliminate consideration of race, gender, and ethnicity from their admissions—permitting only merit-based evaluation, including factors like athletic ability or prior service.
