Naval Academy Alters Admissions, Drops Race Factor

The U.S. Naval Academy has eliminated race as a factor in its admissions process, aligning with President Donald Trump's executive order to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from the military. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling barring affirmative action in college admissions, though it did not specifically address military academies. The policy change also follows directives from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which prohibit race-based goals in military contexts. This move counters a previous court ruling that allowed race-conscious admissions at the Naval Academy for national security reasons. Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids confirmed that race, ethnicity, and sex will no longer be considered in candidate qualifications, impacting ongoing legal challenges from Students for Fair Admissions.