President Donald Trump’s crusade on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs around the country continues to have dire consequences. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. has recently announced its decision to shutter a dozen social and extracurricular clubs for its cadets that focused on race, gender and ethnicity.
The academy also shared that the programs cut were in compliance with the Trump’s administration’s attack on DEI initiatives at all levels of government. A memorandum from Col. Chad R. Foster, which was shared on X, explained that the academy was simply acting “in accordance with recent Presidential executive orders.”
The memo also stated that the disbanded clubs were sponsored by its former Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and that more than 100 other clubs remain active on campus.
Some of the clubs that will be dissolved include National Society of Black Engineers, Asian-Pacific Forum Club, the Japanese Forum Club, the Latin Cultural Club, the Native American Heritage Forum and the Society of Women Engineers Club.
“This directive cancels all trip sections, meetings, events and other activities associated with these clubs. Moreover, these clubs are no authorized to continue informal activities using Government time, resource, or facilities,” the memo read.
Last month, Trump signed four executive orders regarding the military. The orders reinstated members of the military who were terminated due to vaccination mandates, eliminated “gender radicalism” within the military and eliminated DEI services within the military.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point educates and trains young folks to become officers in the U.S. Army. It has aways pursued a diverse student body. Last year, it announced that out of over 12,300 applicants, West Point selected 1,230 U.S. citizens and 16 international students for its class of 2028.
In 2024, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge of West Point’s race-conscious admissions policies by Students for Fair Admissions, even though it ruled against similar programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.