(Press Release) Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) joined Reps. Ben Cline (VA-06), Rob Wittman (VA-01), Morgan Griffith (VA-09), and John McGuire (VA-05) in sending a letter to President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to raise serious concerns regarding the governance of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and its subjection to significant legislative intervention and State over-reach.
Congresswoman Kiggans said,
“Virginia Military Institute is one of the most cherished and storied academic institutions in our Commonwealth and has shaped generations of young men and women who have gone on to serve in our Armed Forces.
As a veteran and VMI Mom, I am deeply concerned that the Virginia General Assembly has taken legislative action to completely reshape the fabric of this institution to fit their ideological ambitions.
I stand with my Republican colleagues and VMI alumni from across the country in condemning these actions and call for the egregious State over-reach from Richmond to end.”
Excerpts of the letter:
“As documented in the Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services (STARRS) Open Letter to the President and the Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA) Resolution, these actions raise serious concerns regarding federal military authority, officer commissioning pipelines, and compliance with federal constitutional and statutory requirements.”
“VMI operates pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code as one of only six federally recognized Senior Military Colleges. Congress has expressly recognized and supported such institutions because of their importance to national defense and officer procurement.
“As noted in the STARRS letter, VMI’s cadets participate in ROTC programs under federal authority and commission at rates that exceed most civilian institutions. Any restructuring that materially alters governance, oversight, or commissioning integrity directly implicates federal reliance interests protected under 10 U.S.C. § 2111a.”
“Two bills advancing in the Virginia General Assembly — HB1374 and HB1377 — collectively restructure the governance of VMI and establish a legislative task force empowered to examine, evaluate, and potentially recommend changes to its military training model, governance framework, and officer-producing role.
“As detailed in the STARRS analysis, HB1374 alters the composition of the VMI Board of Visitors by capping alumni representation or eliminating it entirely. It also significantly reshapes the appointment criteria from that which served the Institute for over 187 years. HB1377 establishes a task force authorized to study VMI’s educational and institutional practices, including its military training and commissioning function.”
“VMI has served the Nation for more than 180 years, producing officers who defend all fifty states. The issue before you is not confined to Virginia; it concerns the stability of a federally recognized officer-development system upon which the entire Nation depends.”
Read the full letter here.
STARRS Open Letter to POTUS re the Virginia Military Institute
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