Dr. Adam Kalkstein, the sole climate scientist teaching at West Point, the US Military Academy, was fired after the spring semester of 2026. According to a court filing, his termination came six months after a contentious meeting with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, then dean of West Point’s academic board.

Kalkstein, a civilian geography professor who taught army cadets for 17 years, told the dean in November 2025 that an order to remove content about the human causes of climate change from the curriculum was "immoral and potentially illegal." He compared the directive to "trying to teach the law without being able to even mention the constitution."

The lawsuit alleges that Reeves responded by "storming out" of the meeting and stating that then-Commander in Chief Donald Trump set the agenda for West Point. The developments were reported by Stars and Stripes and the New York Times.

This incident follows similar tensions at the academy, including a previous dispute involving Tim Bakken, the longest-serving law professor, who challenged a Trump administration policy requiring civilian colleagues to seek approval before publishing papers or giving speeches. West Point has since dropped its challenge to a preliminary injunction against that policy, with parties agreeing "in principle" to work toward a permanent solution.

The lawsuit also claims Kalkstein first learned his position was at risk in May 2025 when West Point announced plans to reduce civilian staffing while simultaneously opening a new humanities center requiring geography teachers.

In a related context, in April 2025, then-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to remove nearly 400 books promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion after a review.

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