The Air Force Academy has made a significant change to its admissions process by no longer considering the race, gender, or ethnicity of applicants. This decision comes in response to a lawsuit accusing the institution of discrimination for using class diversity as a factor in admissions.
According to a filing from the Justice Department, Gwendolyn R. DeFilippi, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, issued a memorandum in February eliminating quotas, objectives, and goals based on sex, race, or ethnicity from admissions considerations. This move aligns with a similar change made by the Naval Academy, which also removed race, ethnicity, and sex as factors for admission.
Both the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy sought to postpone hearings in their court cases to allow the new policies to take effect. The changes were implemented to comply with a January executive order from President Trump, which emphasized the importance of operating the Armed Forces without preferences based on race or sex. Additionally, a memorandum from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterated the directive, prohibiting any Department of Defense component from establishing goals based on sex, race, or ethnicity.
These changes mark a significant shift in how military academies review applications and strive to create a more equitable admissions process. By eliminating considerations of race, gender, and ethnicity, the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy are working towards a more inclusive and merit-based system for selecting future cadets.
