{"id":2447998,"date":"2025-06-16T16:44:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T20:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-asks-court-to-toss-naval-academy-affirmative-action-lawsuit\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T16:46:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T20:46:04","slug":"doj-asks-court-to-toss-naval-academy-affirmative-action-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-asks-court-to-toss-naval-academy-affirmative-action-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ asks court to toss Naval Academy affirmative action lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-asks-court-to-toss-naval-academy-affirmative-action-lawsuit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2447998&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and a conservative legal group, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), have requested a federal appeals court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging race-based admissions at the U.S. Naval Academy. This request follows the military&#8217;s decision to comply with former President Donald Trump&#8217;s executive orders that ended the practice of considering race in admissions. The DOJ claimed that the case is now moot as the Naval Academy has adopted a colorblind, merit-only admissions policy that no longer factors race into the evaluation process. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the DOJ&#8217;s commitment to merit-based opportunities and illegal discrimination&#8217;s end across the federal government. The lawsuit, filed by SFFA, originally alleged that the Naval Academy&#8217;s admissions policy violated the Fifth Amendment by considering race.The DOJ seeks to vacate a previous ruling that upheld the academy&#8217;s policy, aligning with SFFA&#8217;s objectives to dismantle affirmative action in military academies and universities. This shift indicates a significant change in policy amidst broader changes regarding diversity initiatives across the federal government.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ asks court to toss Naval Academy affirmative action lawsuit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video\">\n<div id=\"Brid_21235\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Justice Department<\/a>&nbsp;and a conservative legal group have jointly asked a federal appeals court to dismiss a challenge to race-based admissions at the&nbsp;U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/naval-academy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Naval Academy<\/a>, citing the military&rsquo;s permanent end to the practice in compliance with President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s executive orders.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/media\/1403766\/dl?inline=&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">filing<\/a> Monday at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the DOJ and&nbsp;Students for Fair Admissions&nbsp;requested that the case be dismissed as moot and that the district court&rsquo;s earlier ruling upholding the academy&rsquo;s policy be vacated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3443045\/largest-health-network-indiana-dei-faces-scrutiny\/\">Largest health network in Indiana faces scrutiny over &#8216;illegal DEI&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3442976\/7-billion-opioid-settlement-purdue-pharma\/\">States finalize $7.4 billion in opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3443038\/us-attorney-federal-charges-vance-luther-boelter\/\">US <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-attorney-announces-federal-charges-against-minnesota-shootings-suspect\/\" title=\"US attorney announces federal charges against Minnesota shootings suspect\">attorney announces federal charges<\/a> against Minnesota shootings suspect<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graduating U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen raise their right hands as they are commissioned at the graduation and commissioning ceremony at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Friday, May 28, 2021. (AP Photo\/Susan Walsh)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;This Department is committed to ending illegal discrimination and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >restoring merit-based opportunity<\/a> throughout the federal government,&rdquo; Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-addresses-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-challenging-race-based-admissions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said in a press release<\/a>. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/affirmative-action\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">affirmative action<\/a>&nbsp;lawsuit, filed by the same group that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2578872\/supreme-court-bans-affirmative-action-in-ruling-against-race-conscious-college-admissions-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">successfully challenged<\/a> Harvard and the University of North Carolina&rsquo;s admissions policies at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Supreme Court<\/a>, alleged the Naval Academy violated the Fifth Amendment by using race as a factor in admissions decisions. A federal judge upheld the policy in late 2024, citing national security interests and deferring to the executive branch&rsquo;s military judgment.<\/p>\n<p>That justification no longer stands, according to the joint motion.<\/p>\n<p>Following Trump&rsquo;s January executive order banning racial preferences in the military, the Pentagon directed all service academies to adopt colorblind, merit-only admissions practices. The Naval Academy complied in February, with its dean of admissions formalizing a policy that explicitly bars consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex in candidate evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>The filing states that the Defense Department has since ratified the changes as permanent.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Naval Academy changed its admissions policy so that race and ethnicity are no longer considered in any way at any point,&rdquo; the government wrote. The department also determined that using race in admissions &ldquo;does not promote military cohesiveness, lethality, recruitment, retention, or legitimacy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Edward Blum, president of SFFA, welcomed the government&rsquo;s shift in policy in a statement earlier this year. &ldquo;Racial discrimination is wrong and racial classifications have no place at our nation&rsquo;s military academies,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Blum has long fought to end affirmative action, not just in public and private universities but also at military academies. The move for the government to dismiss the case shows an alignment between the DOJ and conservative groups not seen during former President Joe Biden&rsquo;s term, when the Biden DOJ notably sought to defend affirmative action policies at military schools.<\/p>\n<p>The latest motion asks the appeals court to vacate the district court ruling to prevent it from having future legal weight. The Trump administration&rsquo;s policy reversal and resulting mootness justify that outcome under standard precedent, the filing argues.<\/p>\n<p>This shift comes as the administration dismantles numerous&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">diversity, equity, and inclusion<\/a>&nbsp;initiatives across the federal government.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s order earlier this year targeted&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">federal DEI programs<\/a>, including in hiring and education, and led to a sharp reduction in Education Department staff.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3420621\/vance-emphasizes-generational-shift-foreign-policy-naval-academy-graduation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"VANCE EMPHASIZES 'GENERATIONAL SHIFT' IN US FOREIGN POLICY AT NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATION\">VANCE EMPHASIZES &lsquo;GENERATIONAL SHIFT&rsquo; IN US FOREIGN POLICY AT NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Military academies such as the Air Force Academy and West Point are also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-responds-to-attempt-to-ban-him-from-denver-ballots-in-2024\/\" title=\"Trump reacts to Denver&#039;s 2024 ballot ban attempt.\">facing similar lawsuits<\/a> from SFFA. In April, the two schools announced they would stop using affirmative action in admissions policies.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the Trump administration withdrawing these policies, all SFFA military academy lawsuits remain active. The Naval Academy suit could be the first of Blum&rsquo;s cases dismissed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_21235\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"playlist\":\"21235\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ seeks dismissal of Naval Academy affirmative action lawsuit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2447999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP19144549161081.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[40921,7076,4585,33211,42512],"class_list":["post-2447998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-affirmative-action","tag-doj","tag-lawsuit","tag-legal-news","tag-naval-academy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP19144549161081.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2447998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2447998"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2447998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2448002,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2447998\/revisions\/2448002"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2447999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2447998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2447998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2447998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}