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Judge Blocks West Point Speech Rules on Civilian Faculty
The ruling found the academy’s preapproval rule likely violated the First Amendment and barred enforcement against civilian faculty, according to the judge.
- On Tuesday, a federal judge in New York blocked President Donald Trump's rules restricting speech at the United States Military Academy, issuing a preliminary injunction against the Department of the Army enforcing Trump's order.
- Trump's January 2025 executive order prohibited West Point from promoting un-American, divisive, discriminatory, radical, extremist, and irrational theories; West Point subsequently required civilian professors to seek pre-approval before mentioning military affiliation in publications, conferences, media interviews, podcasts, editorials, blogs, and social media.
- Law professor Tim Bakken filed suit in September accusing West Point of suppressing his free expression; the academy removed books from libraries, deleted course content, eliminated majors, and removed the publications tab from its faculty website.
- U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, appointed by former President George W. Bush, called the policies a blunt force instrument preventing no real harm, writing cadets are not snowflakes who will be harmed by learning controversial issues or competing viewpoints.
- The West Point ruling reflects broader First Amendment challenges to Trump military policies; earlier this month a judge blocked Pentagon press access rules that drove mainstream outlets from the Pentagon pool, and Bakken will pursue permanent injunction protection.
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Center
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources are Center
58% Center
L 25%
C 58%
R 17%
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