Naval Academy eliminates race-based recruit admissions

The Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that the Naval Academy (USNA) will no longer have race requirements for admitting new recruits, ending positive discrimination within the institution.

Just after returning to the White House as president, Donald Trump signed a law to boost meritocracy and eliminate racial and sexual discrimination in the military.

Through a joint filing with Students for Fair Admission, the DOJ asked the courts to reject a lawsuit the department brought against the Naval Academy for having race as an admissions requirement before this decision was made.

"The Department of Defense's (DOD) military judgment is that recruiting and promoting individuals based solely on merit, not immutable characteristics, enhances unit cohesion and performance," the brief reads. "DOD has now determined that neither the recruitment and retention of talented officers nor the legitimacy of the U.S. military is positively affected by the service academies' consideration of race in admissions."

Attorney General Pam Bondi, applauded the decision made by DOD to end affirmative action within the Naval Academy.

"This Department is committed to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity throughout the federal government. We are proud to partner with the Department of Defense to permanently end race-based admissions at the United States Naval Academy and ensure that admission to this prestigious institution is based exclusively on merit," Bondi said.