Hegseth Addresses West Point Graduates on Military Standards

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke at the West Point commencement ceremony. He stated that battlefield conditions require performance without adjustment for identity factors. Hegseth said West Point had previously adopted diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and hired faculty who promoted certain academic viewpoints.

He described these changes as efforts to alter the academy's traditional focus.

A retired military analyst who visited West Point in July 2022 reported that an unnamed senior officer described reductions in certain standards and traditions. The officer requested that the concerns be made public. Hegseth also referenced adjustments to discipline policies, removal of some statues, and relocation of certain artwork during his remarks.

The address noted that similar recruitment and training practices exist in police departments, fire departments, healthcare, airlines, air traffic control, emergency communications, and utilities. The speech did not include data on hiring outcomes or performance metrics in those fields. Hegseth stated that merit should determine selection for positions that affect public safety.