Latest news with #militaryacademies
Russia Today
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Pentagon orders DEI quotas canceled in service academies
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a directive ordering all military service academies to stop considering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) criteria in admissions decisions. The memo, signed on Friday, states that MSA admission offices will no longer be able to apply any 'considerations of race, ethnicity or sex' when considering applicants and must base their decisions 'exclusively on merit.' Academies have 30 days to adhere to the new standards. Additionally, merit-based scores may also consider 'unique athletic talent' or other experiences such as prior military service and performance at a MSA preparatory school. 'This ensures only the most qualified candidates are admitted, trained and ultimately commissioned to lead,' Hegseth wrote in the order, adding that 'selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces.' In a separate memo issued on Friday and seen by the Associated Press, Hegseth also ordered military leaders and commanders at the Pentagon to go through their libraries and remove all books related to DEI issues. The document reportedly stated that educational materials at libraries 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission' and that military leaders must 'promptly identify' books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. The reforms follow a broader campaign by the administration of President Donald Trump to remove DEI-related programs and content from the military, including books in military libraries and instruction on gender ideology. Shortly after assuming office in January, Trump signed an executive order titled 'Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness', which prohibited any race- or sex-based preferences in the armed forces. That order similarly called for all military personnel decisions, including recruitment and promotions, to reflect a merit-based framework. The directive also outright banned transgender individuals from serving in the US military and instructed the Department of Defense to identify and dismiss all service members who have a history of gender dysphoria. Last week, the US Supreme Court upheld the president's ban.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pete Hegseth directs military academies that all future admissions will be based solely on merit
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday sent a memo to West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy, saying that all future admissions will be based solely on merit. "The Department owes it to our nation, our Service Members, and our young Americans applying to the MSAs to ensure admissions to these prestigious institutions are based exclusively on merit," Hegseth wrote in a memo to the academies. He added that this would ensure that only the "most qualified candidates" would be admitted. Pete Hegseth Says West Point Professor Who Resigned Over Trump Admin Education Overhaul 'Will Not Be Missed' "Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces," he wrote. He said the secretaries of the military departments would have 30 days to certify that there will be no consideration of race, ethnicity or sex in applications and that they will be based on merit only. Read On The Fox News App Hegseth Orders Deadline For Trans Service Members To Leave Military: 'Out At The Dod' He said merit can be weighted by athletic talent, prior military service, performance at an MSA preparatory school, or other similar experience. "The Department must remain steadfast in its pursuit of excellence and never compromise the high standards at our MSAs," he concluded. "A strong officer corps is essential to ensuring the United States military remains the most lethal the world has ever known."Original article source: Pete Hegseth directs military academies that all future admissions will be based solely on merit
CNN
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Military academies ordered to review books for possible removal
Military academies ordered to review books for possible removal CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks with Howard University Law professor Sherrilyn Ifill about the latest orders for military academies to review their library books for subjects and terms that go against the Trump administration's anti-DEI initiatives. 01:36 - Source: CNN Vertical Politics of the Day 11 videos Military academies ordered to review books for possible removal CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks with Howard University Law professor Sherrilyn Ifill about the latest orders for military academies to review their library books for subjects and terms that go against the Trump administration's anti-DEI initiatives. 01:36 - Source: CNN Breaking down Trump's 'big beautiful bill' CNN's Manu Ranju spoke with GOP representatives who say they're divided over President Donald Trump's proposed 'big beautiful bill' that aims to cut trillions more from the federal budget and overhaul Medicaid. 02:08 - Source: CNN Trump calls election of American pope 'great honor' President Donald Trump celebrated the news that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was elected as Pope Leo XIV. 00:34 - Source: CNN 'I take responsibility': Biden addresses Trump's presidential win Former President Joe Biden said he 'wasn't surprised' by Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 election loss and admitted his administration failed to communicate some of their achievements during an interview on 'The View.' 00:55 - Source: CNN Biden reacts to Pope Leo XIV's election Former President Joe Biden tell CNN's Dana Bash that he's pleased to see Pope Leo XIV making history as the first American pope. 00:32 - Source: CNN First cargo ships facing 145% tariffs arrive in LA Ships now pulling into LA's harbor from China are the first to be subject to massive tariffs. Shipments have dropped by 50%. CNN's Nick Watt is on the ground at the port of Los Angeles. 01:00 - Source: CNN Transgender Navy veteran reacts to military ban A transgender US Navy veteran responds to the Supreme Court's decision that President Trump's ban on transgender troops serving in the military is effective immediately. Abby Phillip and the CNN NewsNight panel react. 01:56 - Source: CNN Trump urges India-Pakistan attacks to 'stop' President Donald Trump emphasized to reporters that the US 'gets along with both countries very well,' when asked about the deadly eruption of fighting between India and Pakistan. 00:27 - Source: CNN Carney says he asked Trump to stop '51st State' threats Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters following his meeting with President Trump at the White House he asked Trump to stop threatening to annex Canada. During the meeting, Carney told Trump in the Oval Office that Canada 'won't be for sale ever.' 01:04 - Source: CNN Trump supporters on third term Comedians Davram Stiefler and Jason Selvig regularly attend Trump rallies, speaking with the President's supporters for their podcast, 'The Good Liars Tell the Truth.' They tell CNN's Laura Coates there was 'constant forgiveness for anything' that President Trump does, including a possible third term. 01:31 - Source: CNN How businesses are waiting out tariffs With Trump's new tariffs in place on products from countries like China, many businesses are looking at bonded warehouses as a way to legally avoid paying the extra dues, for now. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones explains how they work. 01:01 - Source: CNN
Fox News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Pete Hegseth directs military academies that all future admissions will be based solely on merit
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday sent a memo to West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy, saying that all future admissions will be based solely on merit. "The Department owes it to our nation, our Service Members, and our young Americans applying to the MSAs to ensure admissions to these prestigious institutions are based exclusively on merit," Hegseth wrote in a memo to the academies. He added that this would ensure that only the "most qualified candidates" would be admitted. "Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces," he wrote. He said the secretaries of the military departments would have 30 days to certify that there will be no consideration of race, ethnicity or sex in applications and that they will be based on merit only. He said merit can be weighted by athletic talent, prior military service, performance at an MSA preparatory school, or other similar experience. "The Department must remain steadfast in its pursuit of excellence and never compromise the high standards at our MSAs," he concluded. "A strong officer corps is essential to ensuring the United States military remains the most lethal the world has ever known."
Washington Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Hegseth escalates targeting of race, gender in military's academic settings
The Pentagon on Friday directed the nation's prestigious military academies to end consideration of race, gender and ethnicity in their admissions processes, and begin a purge — along with other Defense Department academic institutions — of educational materials focused on those 'divisive concepts.' Beginning with the service academies' next admission cycle, prospective students will be evaluated for acceptance based 'exclusively on merit,' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in one of two policy memos released by the Pentagon. The document emphasizes that 'no consideration' be given to candidates' race, gender or ethnicity, but factors such as 'unique athletic talent' and previous military service may be taken into account.
