A GOP House lawmaker slammed the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy over a new policy that he described as one of the “far-left’s social experiments.”
The Long Island-based institution recently implemented a policy giving special treatment to midshipmen undergoing gender transitions who are permitted to seek exemptions from their military service requirement, a policy that doesn’t sit well with Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) who heads up the House Anti-Woke Caucus and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
You can now go to our taxpayer-funded service academies, get a free education, then decide you want to switch genders and have your service commitment waived. Unbelievable! https://t.co/nsjlKN5YHE — Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) October 29, 2023
Banks was among congressional Republicans who expressed their concerns over the policy shift in a letter to the academy and he told the New York Post that “Our service academies are critical institutions for the security of our nation, not laboratories for the far-left’s social experiments.”
“Forcing radical gender ideology on the young men and women who want to serve their country is dangerous and wrong,” Banks added.
According to the New York Post, the policy which went into effect earlier this month, “is meant to set up procedures for the admission and education of transgender students and those ‘transitioning while enrolled at the academy so as to remove barriers for those with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender.’”
The policy says that midshipmen “with a diagnosis indicating that gender transition is medically necessary” are to be treated “in the same manner, and to the same extent, as to students with other medical conditions that impact a student’s ability to matriculate, graduate and fulfill their service obligation,” the outlet reported.
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) who was among lawmakers who signed the letter called the new policy “radical” and said that it will “lead to the exploitation of our once-pristine academies,” that have traditionally offered students a free education for their future service in the military.
“Leftist transgender policies have not only infiltrated American colleges and universities but also our service academies – it must stop,” Babin said.
Republican lawmakers asked the academy to explain why “gender dysphoria [is] considered a ‘medically disqualifying condition?’”
“Woke ideology and social experiments cannot be tolerated, supported, or funded in any branch of our armed forces,” said Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) who also signed the letter.
Woke ideology and social experiments cannot be tolerated, supported, or funded in any branch of our armed forces. https://t.co/Bennwc41Yw — Rep. Harriet Hageman (@RepHageman) October 29, 2023
“We are disturbed by the policy guidelines that would allow Midshipmen who identify as transgender during their third or fourth year at USMMA to receive a medical waiver from their obligated service,” the GOP lawmakers wrote in the letter, adding, “This creates a dangerous avenue for exploiting our nation’s prestigious service academies.”
Earlier this year, the academy made headlines for covering up the “Christ on the Water” painting of Jesus guiding seamen that has been displayed in a conference room at the King’s Point, NY academy for 76 years, another example of the ongoing war on God being waged by the political left which has stealthily infiltrated nearly every institution in American society.
US Merchant Marine Academy decides that Christ on the Water painting which was hung in honor of our lost sailors is unconstitutional. Another perfect example of how poorly we continue to teach history and the understanding of this country’s foundation. pic.twitter.com/8RxmnpxVOm — Uncle Muffin (@realjeremypease) February 23, 2023
According to its website: “The United States Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy that educates and graduates leaders of exemplary character who are committed to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. With 95 percent of the world’s products transported over water, these leaders are vital to the effective operation of our merchant fleet for both commercial and military transport in peace and war. Academy graduates abide by the motto: ‘Acta Non Verba,’ or ‘Deeds Not Words,’ and are leaders that exemplify the concept of service-above-self.”