Written by Matthew Collins.
President Donald Trump has fired board members from the military service academies, calling them out for promoting what he describes as “woke” ideology. He announced the decision on TruthSocial, saying that over the past four years, these institutions have been influenced by leftist ideas that weaken military preparedness.
According to Trump, restoring the strength of the military starts with who oversees these academies. That means replacing board members at the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard academies with individuals who align with his vision for a stronger, more effective military force.
This move mirrors what President Joe Biden did when he took office. Biden removed Trump-appointed board members, and now, Trump is returning the favor.
DEI Policies Under Fire
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies have been a major focus in the military, influencing training materials and policies at all levels. Trump and his allies, including Elon Musk at the Department of Government Efficiency and Pete Hegseth at the Department of Defense, have made it clear they want to eliminate DEI programs altogether.
Trump has already signed executive orders shutting down DEI funding and eliminating related staff positions. He argues that these initiatives, which emphasize racial and gender diversity, are unnecessary distractions that do nothing to improve national security.
DEI in the Military: What Investigations Found
Reports from lawmakers like Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Chip Roy have highlighted just how much DEI has taken root in the military. They point to taxpayer-funded programs that promote social agendas over military readiness.
One example includes an Air Force Academy presentation titled “Diversity & Inclusion: What it is, why we care, & what we can do.” This slideshow advised cadets to avoid using gendered language like “mom” and “dad,” supposedly to be more inclusive. Another report revealed that West Point cadets were being trained on concepts like “white privilege,” raising concerns about whether these teachings belong in military instruction.
Perhaps most controversially, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff defended teaching critical race theory (CRT) at military academies. He testified before Congress, saying he wanted to understand “white rage” and suggested that racial extremism deserved more focus—even though an internal Pentagon study found no real evidence of widespread extremism in the military.
Our Take
Trump’s decision to remove these board members is a necessary step toward restoring the military’s core mission: defending the country. Military academies should focus on training the best and most capable leaders, not pushing ideological agendas. The past four years have shown a dangerous shift toward political activism within these institutions, and it’s no surprise that Trump is taking action.
DEI programs do nothing to enhance military effectiveness. If anything, they create division and weaken cohesion among troops. The military exists to be a strong, united force—not a social experiment. Taxpayer dollars should be spent on training and equipping soldiers, not enforcing speech codes and social theories.
Removing these board members is just the beginning. If the U.S. wants to maintain its position as the world’s most powerful military, it must reject political distractions and refocus on what actually matters: strength, strategy, and readiness.
