# Hegseth ends military academy tenure for civilians

> Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs military academies to stop granting tenure to civilian faculty members.
- Title: Hegseth ends military academy tenure for civilians | Shortify
- Summary: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs military academies to stop granting tenure to civilian faculty members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo…
- Keywords: peter hegseth, naval academy, military academies, tenure, civilian faculty, warfighting, u.s. department of defense, defense secretary, military service academies, academic tenure, news, local
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/education/higher-education/naval-academy-tenure-overhaul-OT2J7WSCXZGFLE5S5GR4FKC5PA
- Author: Ellie Wolfe,Matti Gellman
- Published: 2026-09-30T00:07:12.011+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: peter hegseth, naval academy, military academies, tenure, civilian faculty, warfighting, u.s. department of defense, defense secretary, military service academies, academic tenure, news, local
## Hegseth signs memo
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo directing the U.S. Department of Defense to stop appointing civilians as tenured faculty at military academies.
## Military academies affected
The Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and U.S. Air Force Academy will no longer grant tenure to civilian faculty members.
## Rationale for change
The memo states military academies must refocus on warfighting by eliminating civilian academic norms that dilute lethality focus.
## Current faculty composition
Roughly half of the 600 Naval Academy faculty members are civilians, who teach subjects military officers don't study.
## Opposition from officials
U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth said tenure helps military academies lead in STEM, research, and innovation by recruiting the best and brightest.
## Legal concerns
Legal experts warn revoking tenure could lead to lawsuits as it breaches contracts for faculty who had tenure.
## Recent changes at academy
The academy has ended affirmative action, removed books on race and gender, and purged half its board since Trump returned to office.
## Key takeaway

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo ending tenure offers for civilian faculty at military academies to refocus on warfighting.