By Victoria Manning | Restoration News
All five military service academies, including West Point, have boards of visitors meant to provide oversight—but they’ve been failing at their jobs in recent years.
The boards are comprised of senators and representatives, among others, many of whom don’t even attend the meetings. A recent West Point Board of Visitors (BOV) meeting was disappointing, with only one board member conducting appropriate oversight: Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, USA-Ret.
As part of our new project, RestoretheMilitary, we’re monitoring each academy’s BOV meeting and weighing in on the most pressing issues affecting each academy. It’s a powerful way to assess the success of each BOV meeting, as we’ve recently done with the U.S. Air Force Academy:
Doug Truax_Letter to USAFA BOV_August 7 by Jeff Reynolds
Gen. Flynn Revamping the BOV
Past West Point BOV meetings were nothing more than an opportunity for the Superintendent and commandant to promote themselves without any meaningful dialogue or oversight by the members of the BOV. This first meeting of 2025 was a little different but still lacking.
Gen. Flynn, appointed by President Trump, was the most outspoken at the meeting. According to attendees from the MacArthur Society of West Point Graduates, Flynn spoke about the necessity to put the focus back on training warfighters and not pushing woke political agendas. When Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) called for the return of DEI programs, Flynn said, “If you want to learn about social justice, go to the University of Rhode Island!”
Flynn’s right to focus on winning wars and defending the nation.
Just a few weeks after the BOV meeting, West Point Dean Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves proudly announced he was hiring Jen Easterly as the new “Distinguished Chair” of the Department of Social Sciences. Army Sec. Dan Driscoll took swift action against Easterly and Reeves, properly recognizing that the West Point administration was not in line with the vision of the current administration. Driscoll ordered an immediate review of West Point’s hiring practices and asked the BOV to assist.
Gen. Flynn only has one vote on the BOV and others need to step up and do what is right. Board Chair Rep. Steve Womack, who has served there for eight years, must do more than just be a figurehead. He needs to ensure Trump’s anti-woke agenda is implemented and hold Superintendent Steven Gilland responsible for his actions.
Many BOV members simply just didn’t show up. The only senator present was Joni Ernst (R-IA). Senators notably absent were Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who hasn’t attended any of the three meetings since her appointment, Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
These members have another chance to provide genuine oversight when the West Point BOV meets again this November. This isn’t a joke; federal statues require them to “conduct independent inquiries into morale, discipline, curriculum, facilities, finances, and any matters they choose to investigate.”
Restoration of America, through our project RestoretheMilitary.com, is now a watchdog for these boards to hold them accountable for fulfilling their oversight duties rather than being a rubber stamp for the superintendent.
Doug Truax_Letter to USMA BOV_July 1 by tips
First published on Restoration News
900672661-Doug-Truax-Letter-to-USMA-BOV-July-1 (pdf)
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