Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
The US Naval Academy has officially revised its admissions policy, deciding to no longer factor in race when evaluating prospective candidates. This change follows a significant ruling by the US Supreme Court that prohibited civilian institutions from utilizing similar affirmative action strategies.
This shift was notably outlined by the Trump administration in a recent court filing that aims to pause an appeal from a group opposed to affirmative action. This group is challenging a decision made last year which had upheld the Naval Academy’s admissions program that was conscious of race.
Shortly after his inauguration in January, Donald Trump enacted an executive order on January 27, 2021, which rescinded diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military framework.
On January 29, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth followed suit by issuing new directives that prohibited the military from establishing any objectives based on sex, race, or ethnicity regarding organizational composition and academic admissions.
In accordance with these directives, Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, the superintendent of the Naval Academy, communicated that race, ethnicity, and sex would no longer be considerations in the admissions process.
The Justice Department noted that this policy adjustment could potentially influence an ongoing lawsuit spearheaded by Students for Fair Admissions, an organization established by Edward Blum, a prominent advocate against affirmative action. This group is currently contesting similar race-conscious admissions systems at other military academies as well.
Blum’s organization had been aiming to leverage its success from a June 2023 Supreme Court decision, where the court’s conservative majority ruled against the longstanding policies used by various colleges and universities aimed at enhancing diversity among their student bodies, particularly for Black, Hispanic, and other minority groups.
The Supreme Court ruling essentially nullified the race-conscious admissions practices upheld by institutions such as Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. However, it was explicitly stated that the ruling did not pertain to admissions at military academies, which Chief Justice John Roberts noted might have “potentially distinct interests.”
Following the court’s ruling, Blum’s organization initiated three lawsuits to challenge the exceptions that military institutions have regarding affirmative action policies. The lawsuit against the Naval Academy was the first to be brought to trial.
Nevertheless, Judge Richard Bennett of the Baltimore federal court ruled in favor of the Biden administration, affirming the constitutionality of the Naval Academy’s previous admissions policy.
Source
www.theguardian.com