WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has ordered the immediate dismissal of the boards of visitors for all U.S. military service academies, citing concerns over what he called an infiltration of “woke leftist ideologues.”
“Our Service Academies have been infiltrated by Woke Leftist Ideologues over the last four years,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I have ordered the immediate dismissal of the Board of Visitors for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard.”
Trump Targets ‘Woke’ Influence in Military Academies
The move aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to purge the U.S. military of so-called ‘woke’ officers and eliminate diversity initiatives within the Pentagon. Since the start of his second term, the administration has prioritized dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs via executive orders.
Republican lawmakers have long criticized what they see as the increasing presence of progressive ideology in military training programs. On Friday, The Washington Post reported that the Defense Department had begun restricting access to certain books in its school systems. In response to Trump’s executive orders, military academies have also started disbanding student diversity clubs, including the National Society of Black Engineers Club and the Asian-Pacific Forum Club at West Point.
Changes to Military Academy Oversight
The boards of visitors play a crucial role in overseeing academic programs and student life at the nation’s premier military training institutions. Traditionally, these advisory panels consist of presidential appointees and congressional members, often including sitting lawmakers.
Trump did not immediately announce replacements for the dismissed board members. However, his administration has signaled an intention to appoint individuals aligned with his vision of a politically neutral and combat-ready military.
A History of Political Disputes Over Military Oversight
This is not the first time a president has reshuffled the leadership of military academy boards. In 2021, the Biden administration removed several Trump appointees from service academy boards, leading to backlash from conservatives.
Trump’s Vision for the Military
“We will have the strongest Military in History, and that begins by appointing new individuals to these Boards,” Trump wrote in his post. “We must make the Military Academies GREAT AGAIN!”
The administration’s latest move is expected to spark further debate over the role of diversity and political ideology in the armed forces, setting the stage for potential legal and congressional challenges.
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