By Kerry Picket | The Washington Times

A House GOP lawmaker introduced legislation Thursday that would codify President Trump’s executive order to stop U.S. military academies from teaching courses based on radical gender ideology and critical race theory.

Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee put forth a bill that would restrict federal funds “expended to establish a curriculum, or to provide training or education based on critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion at the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy and Merchant Marine Academy.”

Mr. Green, a graduate of West Point, said, “Critical race theory is based on a massive and purposeful misunderstanding of the American founding, American history, and America as it exists today.”

Mr. Green called CRT “Marxist ideology created to tear American institutions down.”

He said, “It teaches Americans and members of the Armed Services to judge one another by the color of their skin instead of by the ‘content of their character.’ America should never go back to this kind of thinking.

“The United States military service academies are designed to train leaders and warriors for combat — men and women of every race, creed, and religion. Critical race theory’s divisiveness will destroy the unit cohesion necessary to win in combat and defend this nation.”

The legislation, based on a Jan. 27 White House executive order, is being considered for inclusion in the next National Defense Authorization Act, a must-pass bill that sets defense policy and authorizes spending for the Pentagon.

Critical race theory is a school of thought that teaches America — and every American institution — is based on a foundation of racism, instead of upon the principles of equality, justice and freedom.

During the Biden administration, under pressure from the Pentagon, Service Academies implemented CRT initiatives ranging from mandatory diversity training to reading lists that include Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to be an Antiracist.”

Some military academies added “Diversity and Inclusion” as a minor.

Republicans previously attempted to remove DEI and CRT curricula from the military academies in 2024 on the House draft of that year’s NDAA funding, but they were stymied by the Democratic controlled Senate.

First published in the Washington Times

Rep. Green, West Point Graduate, Introduces FALCONS Act to Protect Service Academies from Radical Left Indoctrination

Today, Rep. Mark Green, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, introduced the Focusing Academies on Leadership and Cultivating Officers for National Security Act or FALCONS Act.

The legislation works to codify the Trump administration’s January 27, 2025 executive order by eliminating courses based on radical gender ideology and Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Rep. Green said,

“Codifying a ban on the teaching of Marxist theories like Critical Race Theory (CRT) and gender ideology in our nation’s service academies will ensure the primary focus remains not just how to fight, but what to fight for—liberty, the Constitution, representative government, and our national defense.

Service academies create leaders for life. As we enter the Golden Age of America’s history under President Trump’s leadership, our academies play an integral role in creating military leaders that will usher our nation into this new era.

My time at West Point shaped who I am. That’s why this topic is so important to me and why I’ve been so grieved by the left’s takeover of service academy curriculum.

I’m pleased President Trump’s executive order has already been put into action, and that my alma mater removed a course titled, ‘Race, Ethnicity and Nation,’ and another titled, ‘Power and Difference.’

Further, the Naval Academy also cancelled two courses on gender ideology.

According to Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, superintendent of the Air Force Academy in Colorado, 55 courses were under further review and 40% may require changes.

That all men are created equal is the self-evident truth at the heart of our nation. In contrast, Critical Race Theory’s self-evident truth is that people are defined by immutable physical characteristics and must right arbitrary historical wrongs by tearing down current systems and participating in active discrimination.

It is a complete rejection of every principle America was founded on, and it’s why we cannot allow President Trump’s executive order to be reversed by a future administration.

Allowing leftist indoctrination in service academies hinders unit cohesion and undermines American institutions. The focus must remain on lethality, not divisive ideology.

The Trump administration is rebuilding our military and equipping it to be even more lethal. As a result, recruiting numbers have skyrocketed, signaling our military is, once again, the greatest fighting force in the world.

We must teach our future warriors to love the country they plan to fight for. An honest, but patriotic, education is absolutely crucial for the national security of our country.”

Read the bill text here.

Background:

Admiral Michael Gilday added Ibram X. Kendi’s book, “How to Be an Antiracist” to a service academy reading list, a book that teaches active discrimination is the only way to right the wrongs of past discrimination and that capitalism is racist. During the same period it was discovered that one service academy hosted a lecture titled, “Understanding Whiteness and White Rage.”

We also know that since 2008, the Air Force has supported multiple identity focused working groups including the “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning Initiatives Team.” This isn’t a problem the right has been making up, but one that has been pervasive for years.

Read about Rep. Green’s previous legislation on banning Critical Race Theory in military service academies in Fox 17 Nashville, the Federalist, the Washington Examiner, Roll Call, the Free Beacon, and the Daily Caller.