The US Court of Appeals has determined that the USNA Naval Academy (USNA) can no longer consider the race, ethnicity, or gender for admission to an service agency in Annapolis, Maryland, following an order from President Donald Trump.
Vice President Yvette David made the policy change on February 14, saying “racial, ethnicity and gender are not considered factors for admission at any point during the admission process, including qualifications and acceptance.”
Trump’s January 27 executive order said “all elements of the military should be freed from preferences based on race and gender,” and directed the Secretary of Defense to conduct an internal review of the country’s academy of service.
The decision followed a December ruling in federal court that allowed the Naval Academy to continue to consider race in the admissions process.
Midshipman (John Graeme/Light Rocket via Getty Images) on the campus of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
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According to an Apsociated Press report, in September, academy lawyer argued that military diversity would be prioritized as “stronger, more effective and broader respect.”
A judge in December found that “military cohesion and other national security factors” found that schools should not be exposed to the same standards as private universities, according to the report.
This appeal came to the group’s students for fair admission.
DOJ on Friday called for a suspension of lawsuits as it looked into changes to USNA’s policy.
US Naval Academy Campus in Annapolis, Maryland (Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service by Jerry Jackson/Getty Images)
“The parties will need reasonable time to discuss the details of the Academy’s new policy and consider the appropriate next step in this case to consider the appropriate next step in this case.
Edward Blum, president of Fair Enrollment Students, was called “unfair and illegal” in a statement to the Associated Press.
Trials over the use of racially-based admission at the Naval Academy begin with a crusade against positive actions
“Racism is wrong, and racial classifications do not exist in our country’s military academies,” Blum writes.
A Democrat Maryland, a Democrat who serves on the USNA Visitors Committee, said the decision was “disastrous” and “will have negative implications for recruiting and retention of our military over the next few decades.”
Midshipman’s salute at the commissioning and graduation ceremony at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, May 24, 2024 (Reuters/Michael A. McCoy/File Photo)
“The Navy and Marines, which reflect the diversity of our country, are our strongest Navy and Marines,” Elfres said. “Diversity and inclusion allow our academy to not only reflect what our country looks like, but also to be important for mission preparation and strong national security.”
In February, the academy said the school was taking steps to close all agents’ diversity, equity, inclusiveness and accessibility (DEIA) offices in accordance with Trump’s executive order and end DEIA-related contracts.
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Dei and Deia’s offices have been closed since at least the summer of 2024, but Davids said “concerns have been raised that some of these programs may have been changed in ways that obscure Deia’s purpose.”
She said that if staff know of changes to blur the relationship between contracts and DEIA or similar ideology, they should report it to the HR Administration.
Incoming Preves (freshmen) will march into Bancroft Hall on June 29, 2023, after taking part in the inauguration oath on the day of their inauguration at the US Naval Academy held in Annapolis, Maryland (Kevin Diet).
“The US Naval Academy did not have a DEI or DEIA office prior to the President’s executive order that required the closure of all agency DEIA offices and the termination of all DEIA related contracts,” CMDR. Navy spokesman Tim Hawkins told Fox News.
“The US Naval Academy internally sent an email from January 23rd to staff members to inform personnel that an executive order has been issued and that the USNA is fully compliant.
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“The Navy implements and implements all directives issued by the President in perfect alignment with professionalism, efficiency and national security goals.”
Human resources officials also said Staff USNA emails should not include gender-identifying pronouns in their signature lines.
Greg Norman and the Associated Press of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Alexandra Koch is a news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox News, Alexandra covered news, crime, religion and military in the Southeast.
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