West Point Professor Quits in Protest as Trump Administration Restores Military Focus on Readiness and Patriotism

A longtime philosophy professor at West Point is resigning in protest over sweeping reforms implemented by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, aimed at refocusing America’s military academies on combat readiness, discipline, and duty to country.

Dr. Graham Parsons, who has taught at the U.S. Military Academy for over a decade, announced his resignation in an opinion piece published in The New York Times, declaring that he is “ashamed to be associated” with the institution amid the Trump administration’s rollback of “woke” ideology within military education.

Secretary Hegseth, a decorated Army veteran and outspoken critic of the politicization of the armed forces, swiftly responded to the professor’s departure. Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Hegseth remarked simply:

You will not be missed, Professor Parsons.

Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has made it a top priority to purge the military of radical left-wing ideology, including the removal of race-based DEI programs, critical race theory instruction, and gender identity content that many critics say undermines the mission of the armed forces.

Parsons, however, took issue with the administration’s commonsense reforms. In his resignation letter, he wrote, “I cannot tolerate these changes, which prevent me from doing my job responsibly,” blaming the new administration’s ban on politically charged content for his decision to leave.

According to The Washington Times, Parsons alleged that West Point leadership pressured him to retract an earlier article he published on Lawfare—an outlet often used to push partisan narratives—on the subject of military neutrality. Although administrators didn’t dispute the content, Parsons claimed they feared it might be viewed as politically controversial under President Trump’s leadership.

This is not the first time Parsons has publicly questioned civilian control of the military. In a 2024 piece also published by The New York Times, he controversially argued that military leaders may be “ethically justified” in defying presidential orders, even if they are not explicitly illegal. He cited hypothetical situations such as using troops to disperse protests or secure urban areas—common sense measures that any commander-in-chief may be forced to consider in times of civil unrest.

“If the president orders the military to take actions that jeopardize its neutrality, the military is ethically justified in criticizing and even resisting that order even if it is not clearly illegal,” Parsons wrote.

He went further, suggesting that the military must remain subordinate to what he called “legitimate democratic authority,” a vague term he left undefined—but one that conveniently allowed him to frame President Trump as a potential threat to democracy.

While out-of-touch academics like Parsons complain about the loss of far-left ideology in the classroom, the Trump administration is moving forward with real action that helps real Americans.

On Friday, President Trump signed a new executive order establishing the National Center for Warrior Independence, a landmark facility for homeless veterans, using funds that had previously been earmarked for services for illegal immigrants.

Located on the West Los Angeles VA campus, the new center will address the urgent crisis of veteran homelessness—particularly in cities like Los Angeles, which is home to roughly 3,000 homeless veterans, the most of any city in the country.

“The new National Center for Warrior Independence will help them and other veterans like them rebuild their lives,” the White House said in a statement. Veterans from across the nation will be able to access care, housing, and benefits “to which they are entitled.”

According to Fox News Digital, the Trump administration’s order redirects resources from migrant housing programs toward the construction and ongoing support of the new facility.
“The Center will promote self-sufficiency through housing, substance abuse treatment, and support for productive work for the veterans housed there,” the White House explained.

The goal is to house up to 6,000 veterans at the center by 2028, the final year of President Trump’s second term.

While leftist professors walk away from their posts in protest of restored accountability and patriotism, President Trump is delivering results—prioritizing those who have worn the uniform and sacrificed for the nation.