Dakota Beacon

In case you missed it last week, President Joe Biden fired at least 15 members of what are called the Boards of Visitors to America’s military academies. They had been appointed by President Donald Trump. They were asked by letter to resign immediately or be terminated. The news received little attention and was probably chalked up to routine partisan warfare. The letter follows.

September 8, 2021

“Dear ----,

“On behalf of President Biden, I am writing to request your resignation as a Member of the Board of Visitors to the [(U.S. Military Academy) (U.S. Naval Academy) (U.S. Air Force Academy)]. Please submit your resignation to me by the close of business today. Should we not receive your resignation, your position with the Board will be terminated effective 6:00 pm tonight. Thank you.

“Sincerely,

“Catherine M. Russell

“Assistant to the President

“Director, White House Office of Presidential Personnel

Letter recipients included the following by each academy.

--U.S. Military Academy: former Army Vice Chief of Staff retired General John Keane, former national security adviser and retired Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, retired Colonel Douglas Macgregor, retired Lieutenant General Guy Swan, businessman David Urban, and Afghan war vet and psychologist Meaghan Mobbs;

--U.S. Naval Academy: former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Vice President Mike Pence staffer Jonathan Hiler, White House budget director Russ Vought, John Coale (married to TV host Greta Van Susteren), retired Rear Admiral Joseph Walsh, and former Navy officer Anthony Parker;

--U.S. Air Force Academy: former senior counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, former Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne, and former White House liaison to the DOJ Heidi Stirrup.

The Boards of Visitors are established by law, specifically 10 US Code 4355 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972. Each board member serves a three year term. Each service academy board consists of six members appointed by the President, three appointed by the Vice President, four appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one designated by the Senate Armed Services Committee and one designated by the House Armed Services Committee for a total of fifteen members.

Per the charter for each academy, “The duty of the academy’s Board of Visitors is to inquire into…the curriculum, instruction…academic methods, and other matters relating to the academy…which the Board decides to consider.”

Per White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s comments on the September 8 firings, “The president’s objective is what any president’s objective is…to ensure you have nominees and people serving on these boards…who are aligned with your values.”

These letters provide a subtle door-opener for potentially bigger issues. Resignation requests were not an isolated action. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin suspended all oversight boards in February 2021 to conduct a “review.” Academies were left without oversight for more than six months. The two actions may not be linked, but they are concomitant. Congressman Mark Green (R-TN) argued that Austin lacks the “authority” to halt the board members’ work and is “violating federal law by doing so.” “It is congressionally mandated. So, it's law that the board of visitors exists and serves as oversight to military academies,” he said.

Legal challenges have been filed. Sean Spicer sued against his dismissal. Heidi Stirrup challenged in court Austin’s decision to suspend the operation of the boards. It remains to be seen how many others will join the two lawsuits.

Congressman Green shared an insight along my own lines of thinking. “So, we're eight months into this administration, and there's been no oversight to the military academies. Meanwhile, they're teaching this divisive critical race theory…” that has recently come into the national spotlight. Critical race theorists argue that the nation's foundational institutions are designed to keep white people ahead of minorities. The “system” must be “dismantled” to achieve a more just society. Opponents of the theory believe that it is divisive because it assigns whites the role of oppressors and people of color the role of victims.

When questioned by reporters, Austin said, “Critical race theory is not something that this department teaches, professes, embraces,” adding that it is discussed in academic settings, including at the U.S. Military Academy.

Hmmmm… The military is subordinate to civilian authority and will comply as directed. Biden’s Board of Visitors replacements have not yet been designated, but when they are they will reflect his values – of which critical race theory is one. The Woke mob will control military education.

Americans got what they voted for – assuming the vote was fair.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).