Army Rescinds West Point Offer to Jen Easterly

The U.S. Army rescinded Jen Easterly's appointment as the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point after public criticism from pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll canceled Easterly’s appointment, paused hiring involving outside groups, and initiated a review of West Point’s hiring practices. Easterly, former director of CISA under President Biden, had faced allegations of involvement in government-led censorship, particularly regarding efforts to combat COVID-19 and 2020 election misinformation. Critics referenced ongoing lawsuits and congressional investigations into claims that CISA pressured social media companies to limit certain viewpoints. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell expressed support for the decision, emphasizing the need for military leadership training over 'censorship activism.' The Army did not provide a specific reason for rescinding the appointment, reflecting increased political scrutiny over government moderation of online content.