Pete Hegseth is shaking up West Point, and the progressive academics are reeling. The Trump administration's Defense secretary, a staunch advocate for military tradition, has launched a sweeping reform to purge what he sees as divisive ideologies from the nation’s premier service academy, as Politico reports. His moves signal a broader push to restore a warrior ethos across military education.
In January, Hegseth, fresh off his confirmation hearing, promised to “rip, root and branch” politics from West Point, targeting civilian faculty like Graham Parsons, a long-time professor of military ethics. President Donald Trump’s executive order, days later, backed Hegseth’s vision, mandating an overhaul of leadership, curriculum, and instructors at military academies. The goal: refocus on history, warfighting, and engineering, sidelining progressive agendas.
Hegseth’s 2024 book, The War on Warriors, slammed civilian control of the military, accusing faculty of pushing a “‘we deserved this’ narrative” in the wake of -9/11. That claim may sting, but it’s hard to argue when West Point banned texts on affirmative action and feminism, including works by James Baldwin and Toni Morrison. The academy’s sociology major and diversity clubs, like the Society of Women Engineers, were also axed.
Hegseth’s teleconference orders to academy leaders were clear: stick to core military subjects. Courses like “Power and Difference” vanished, and faculty now need military approval for publications and social media posts. This clampdown has progressives crying foul, but it’s a necessary correction to keep future officers focused on battle, not ideology.
Graham Parsons, a vocal critic of Trump’s first-term transgender ban, felt the heat early. West Point pressured him to pull a piece on military nonpartisanship before Trump’s 2025 inauguration, which he did. But his May New York Times article, claiming that West Point was indoctrinating rather than educating, crossed a line.
“Indoctrinate, not educate,” Parsons wrote, painting himself as a martyr for academic freedom. His defiance led to an investigation for “allegations of misconduct,” with West Point labeling him AWOL when he was briefly unreachable. Offered a way out, Parsons resigned and fled to Vassar College, prompting Hegseth’s sharp X post: “You will not be missed Professor Parsons.”
The crackdown wasn’t limited to West Point. The Air Force Academy saw 50 civilian faculty depart amid a $10 million budget shortfall, though officials claimed only 25 left. Professors like Brian Johns, a systems engineering expert, faced termination threats, only halted by a California judge’s ruling.
Air Force Academy Dean Linelle Letendre, retiring in 2025, argued education helps officers navigate the “fog of war.” Her sentiment is noble but misses the point: military academies aren’t liberal arts colleges. Hegseth’s push to eliminate ethics and social sciences ensures cadets prioritize combat readiness over academic navel-gazing.
Retired General Martin France called the reforms an attempt to create “flesh-and-bone drones” loyal to Trump’s vision. His critique ignores the need for disciplined officers unswayed by progressive dogma. The military isn’t a debate club; it’s a fighting force.
West Point’s history under Superintendent Sylvanus Thayer in the 1800s favored military discipline over liberal arts. By 2025, civilian faculty made up 27% of West Point’s staff, a far cry from Thayer’s era. Hegseth’s reforms echo that older model, rejecting Eisenhower’s 1953 call for 25% civilian professors.
In 2007, Air Force Academy professors questioned whether academic freedom fits military academies, dubbing the tension “Sparta vs. Athens.” Their concern rings hollow when civilian faculty like Tim Bakken protest speech restrictions as unconstitutional. Military discipline demands unity, not endless dissent.
Naval officer Nicholas Romanow argued in 2022 that liberal arts prevent groupthink. Yet, when West Point’s board, now including Trump loyalists like Michael Flynn, asserts the president’s “absolute authority,” it’s clear the focus is on loyalty to mission, not academic theorizing. Flynn’s disdain for “social justice university” subjects hits the mark.
Trump’s 2025 West Point commencement appearance, sporting a red MAGA hat, drew cheers from cadets but jeers from protesters chanting “Go Army, Beat Tyranny!” A masked civilian professor joined the fray, whining about a “veneer of toughness” on campus. Fear of retaliation doesn’t justify anonymity when reforms aim to strengthen, not silence.
The Naval Academy faced similar turmoil, canceling historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s lecture on strongmen after conservative alumni pressure. “If you fold to a bully, they’re going to keep bullying you,” Ben-Ghiat snapped. Her defiance overlooks the need for academies to align with national security priorities, not progressive talking points.
Hegseth’s plan to oust 60,000 Pentagon civilians, including ethics and history professors, is bold but necessary. Military academies must produce warriors, not scholars debating just war theory. As Hegseth reshapes West Point and beyond, the left’s outcry only proves he’s hitting the right targets.
