West Point Professor Resigns Over Curriculum Censorship Under Trump Administration

Underclassmen attend and cheer for graduates during a graduation ceremony at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, on 25 May 2024.

A longtime philosophy professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has resigned after 13 years, citing fundamental changes in the academy’s curriculum driven by ideological directives under the Trump administration. Professor Graham Parsons announced his departure in protest of what he described as a retreat from the academy’s educational mission and commitment to free inquiry.

Parsons criticized West Point for what he called its “failure to provide an adequate education for the cadets,” alleging that recent policy shifts have compromised the institution's academic integrity. “I cannot tolerate these changes, which prevent me from doing my job responsibly,” he stated. “I am ashamed to be associated with the academy in its current form.”

According to Parsons, West Point began overhauling its curriculum in response to an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump and a directive from then-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. These mandates forbade the teaching of what the administration called “un-American” theories, which included discussions on gender identity and historical critiques of America’s founding documents as racist or sexist.

As a result, administrators reportedly removed or altered courses related to race, gender, and social dynamics. Eliminated classes included “Topics in Gender History,” “Race, Ethnicity, Nation,” and “Power and Difference.” The sociology major was discontinued, along with a Black history initiative previously housed in the history department.

Parsons further revealed that works by prominent authors such as James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker were taken off course reading lists. A student debate team was also allegedly barred from presenting certain viewpoints during competitions.

A new policy was introduced requiring faculty members to secure departmental approval before publishing academic work, speaking at public events, or posting on social media — a rule that Parsons argues has stifled intellectual freedom and academic research, particularly for scholars focused on subjects like masculinity and warfare.

“West Point seems to believe that by submitting to the Trump administration, it can save itself in the long run,” Parsons wrote. “But the damage cannot be undone. If the academy can’t convincingly invoke the values of free thought and political neutrality when they are needed most, it can’t accomplish its mission. Whatever else happens, it will forever be known that when the test came, West Point failed.”

The Trump administration has frequently clashed with American universities, threatening to withhold federal funding from institutions that do not comply with its mandates. In response, some colleges and universities have begun to coordinate efforts to resist political pressure and defend academic freedom.