In a bold move to restore excellence and readiness across the U.S. Armed Forces, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed all military service academies to base future admissions solely on merit—banning the use of race, sex, or ethnicity as selection criteria.
The new policy applies to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Under the directive, admissions decisions must focus exclusively on academic achievement, physical ability, leadership potential, and character. Exceptions will only be made for applicants with unique athletic talent, prior military service, or those who attended military prep schools.
“Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, weakens warfighting readiness, and undermines the culture of excellence that our Armed Forces depend on,” Hegseth said in a statement accompanying the order.
The decision marks a dramatic shift from years of diversity-driven admissions practices and aligns with President Trump’s broader executive orders emphasizing meritocracy and eliminating race- and gender-based policies throughout the federal government.
Although the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling struck down affirmative action in higher education, military academies were previously granted exemptions. That ends with this directive.
In addition to the admissions overhaul, Hegseth has also ordered a full audit of military library content, directing all installations to remove books promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideologies, critical race theory, or gender activism by May 21. The effort is part of a larger campaign to purge woke content from military institutions and re-center them on mission readiness and core American values.
Critics of DEI initiatives argue that they have injected division, lowered standards, and distracted from the military’s fundamental purpose—defending the nation. Hegseth and Trump allies have made it clear: political indoctrination has no place in America’s armed forces.
The Pentagon’s message under this administration is unambiguous—only the best will wear the uniform, and every promotion, appointment, or acceptance will be earned.