The U.S. Naval Academy will no longer factor in race, ethnicity, or sex when considering applicants for admission, following an executive order from former President Donald Trump, according to federal court documents released on Friday.
This policy change was implemented in February by Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the academy’s superintendent, in response to Trump’s January executive order. The order, issued on January 27, stated that “every element of the Armed Forces should operate free from any preference based on race or sex.” It also instructed the defense secretary to review all activities aimed at promoting race- or sex-based preferences, including those at service academies.
According to the court filing released on Friday, “Under updated internal guidance issued by the Superintendent on February 14, 2025, race, ethnicity, and sex can no longer be considered at any stage of the admissions process, including qualifications and acceptance.”
The decision follows a federal judge’s ruling in December that allowed the academy to continue considering race in its admissions process. The judge determined that factors like military cohesion and national security mean the academy shouldn’t be held to the same standards as civilian universities.
During a two-week bench trial in September, the academy’s attorneys argued that prioritizing diversity strengthens the military, making it more effective and respected.
The case challenging the policy was brought by Students for Fair Admissions, who were appealing the judge’s decision.
In the court filing on Friday, the Justice Department requested a pause on the current briefing schedule while both sides review the academy’s updated policy.
“The parties need a reasonable amount of time to discuss the details of the Academy’s new policy and determine the appropriate next steps for this case, including whether it is now moot and, if so, whether the district court’s ruling should be overturned,” the Justice Department stated.
Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions, praised the academy’s decision, saying, “Students for Fair Admissions welcomes the announcement that the U.S. Naval Academy will end its unfair and illegal race-based admissions policies. Racial discrimination is wrong, and racial classifications have no place at our nation’s military academies.”
Maryland Rep. Sarah Elfreth, a Democrat who sits on the academy’s Board of Visitors, criticized the change, calling it a “disastrous decision” that could negatively impact military recruitment and retention for decades.
“A Navy and Marine Corps that reflect the diversity of our country is our strongest Navy and Marine Corps,” Elfreth said. “Diversity and inclusion are not just about representing how our country looks—they’re vital to mission readiness and national security.”
Students for Fair Admissions also filed the lawsuit that challenged affirmative action, leading to the landmark 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The Court’s conservative majority broadly banned the consideration of race and ethnicity in college admissions, effectively ending a long-standing practice designed to create opportunities for historically marginalized groups. The ruling had a major impact on higher education but left room for potential exceptions for military academies, suggesting that national security interests could influence the legal analysis.
Following this, Students for Fair Admissions sued the Naval Academy in Annapolis, challenging the exemption. However, Judge Richard Bennett dismissed their claims, stating that the academy had “established a compelling national security interest in a diverse officer corps.”
During the trial, the group’s attorneys argued that giving priority to minority applicants was unfair to qualified white candidates and that military cohesion should be built through training and command structure rather than diversity considerations.
In that case, the academy argued that its admissions process takes into account various factors, such as grades, extracurricular activities, life experiences, and socioeconomic status, according to court testimony. While race typically did not play a role in admissions decisions, it was occasionally considered in a “limited fashion,” according to the academy’s attorneys in court filings.
