By Victoria Manning | Restoration News
Upon assuming office, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave a clear directive to military leaders—no longer will the focus be on DEI but on warfighting. Top Navy leaders have obeyed that order and are setting the example others should follow.
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, gave a powerful message to his midshipmen on Feb. 28th. “Warfighting is not a slogan,” he explained. “It is the core purpose of our Navy and Marine Corps.”
The Superintendent reminded his naval officers, who will soon be leading others and preparing for battle, of the importance of their training:
The fate of nations, the stability of regions, and the lives of your fellow Americans are not abstract ideas. They rest in the hands of officers who are competent, disciplined, and morally grounded.
Lt. Gen. Borgschulte encouraged the midshipmen to double down on their physical training, academics, and other preparations because they are “operational necessities.”
The young men and women at USNA are no longer subject to past leaders’ focus on social justice but on what matters on the battlefield: warfighting preparation.
Message to the Brigade
Sat, 28 Feb 2026
Operation EPIC FURY pic.twitter.com/pmFIN1tawu— USNA Superintendent (@usnasupe) March 4, 2026
Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of United States Central Command, is another top Navy leader who gets it.
On Feb. 28th, Adm. Cooper issued a message to all servicemembers deployed to the Middle East. He gave them the reason for the mission they were fighting for: “Since 1979, the Iranian Regime has killed and wounded thousands of Americans, and they continue to threaten Americans and our friends.”
He continued saying, “by your courage and grit, you will change the course of human history.”
Adm. Cooper continued offering words of guidance and finished by declaring “You are the shield of the free world, and today, you are its sharpest sword.”
A Stark Contrast with the Biden Administration
Borgschulte and Cooper are exemplary military leaders who stand in stark contrast to those of past administrations highlighted at RestoretheMilitary.com, a project of Restoration of America Foundation and Restoration News.
Under the Biden administration the military’s focus was on diversity, equity, and inclusion and social justice rather than merit and military readiness. The DEI approach led the military down a dangerous path with low recruiting numbers and reduced morale.
Former Navy Admiral Christopher Grady—Vice-Chair of the Joint Chiefs under Biden—told Congress that at fleet visits he had important conversations about racism. During his confirmation hearing he also said he supported the role of “gender advisers”— prioritizing social issues rather than a strict focus on warfighting. During the COVID chaos, Grady put out an order prohibiting service members from attending indoor religious services—a clear violation of religious freedom.
Another admiral promoted under the Biden administration is Derek Trinque who devoted considerable time to social media. While Borgschulte and Cooper delivered energizing speeches, Trinque focused social media posts on DEI and criticism of families gathering for Thanksgiving dinner during COVID.
While wokeness hasn’t been eradicated from the military, Adm. Trinque is still serving on active duty, DEI is on its way out the door.
Thank God for leaders like Lt. Gen. Borgschulte and Adm. Cooper who are resetting expectations to develop warfighters not social justice warriors.
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Victoria Manning is a Senior Investigative Researcher for Restoration News specializing in education freedom, immigration, and military issues. She is the author of Behind the Wall of Government Schools. Victoria served 8 years as an elected school board member and has a master’s degree in law. She also brings the perspective of a military spouse to her reporting. Email Victoria HERE
First published on Restoration News
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