U.S. Coast Guard Ends Race-Based Preferences in College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative

U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that the Coast Guard will end race-based preferences in its College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative. The change removes a prior requirement that gave preference to students from schools meeting quotas for specific racial groups.

DHS General Counsel James Percival said the administration is focused on eliminating unconstitutional DEI policies. S. Coast Guard, are a direct violation of the United States Constitution’s equal protection requirements," Percival stated.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said eliminating racial quotas remains a priority. "Access to opportunities like the Coast Guard’s pre-commissioning initiative should be based exclusively on merit, not the racial composition of your college," Shumate said.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed similar issues last week at the West Point graduation. "The battlefield does not grade on a curve, and you can’t throw your pronouns at the enemy," Hegseth told cadets. " The Trump administration has taken comparable steps to remove DEI policies across the federal government and military.

Fox News reported the Coast Guard change as part of that broader effort.