WASHINGTON—The War Department is monitoring efforts by Virginia Democrats to potentially cripple the Virginia Military Institute, The Daily Wire can first report.
Cadets at VMI, the nation’s first state-sponsored and supported military college, have grown increasingly anxious about the fate of their institution since Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger entered office and appointed former Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to VMI’s Board of Visitors.
Northam had ordered an audit into alleged racism and sexism at VMI in 2021, amid the Democrat-led wave of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion measures in universities across the nation — measures supported by then-President Joe Biden and his administration.
Now, Virginia Democrats suggest that the military institution is still rife with racism, sexism, and cultural barriers. They proposed two measures taking aim at the school: their proposed House Bill 1377 establishes a task force evaluating whether VMI should still be funded by the state, and House Bill 1374 would end VMI’s Board of Visitors and give the state full oversight of the institution.
Revoking VMI’s state funding would likely lead to the school’s demise.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told The Daily Wire on Tuesday that the War Department “reserves the right to take extraordinary measures to protect the integrity of VMI.”
“Our commitment to the cadets and midshipmen currently training there remains steadfast,” he said.
Some state representatives who support the measures, like Democrat Michael Feggans of Virginia Beach, point to VMI’s roots in the Civil War, arguing that the institution has buildings on campus named for Confederate military figures.
“For VMI to flourish into the future, it must be allowed to move unfettered by the ghosts of the past, ghosts rooted in efforts to keep this country divided,” Feggans said during a Monday subcommittee meeting on the matter.
Democrat state Rep. Dan Helmer of Fairfax, frustrated that VMI did not renew the contract of VMI’s first black superintendent, told one local outlet: “For those of us, like me, who care deeply about service and care deeply about producing leaders of character, we need to ensure that VMI has turned the page.”
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger watches the Corps. of Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Parnell shared with The Daily Wire on Tuesday that the Pentagon is specifically monitoring Virginia House Bill 1374 “with significant concern.”
“For generations, the unique military environment at VMI has made the institute a vital source of commissioned officers for the Armed Forces,” he said. “The stability of this proven leadership pipeline is a matter of direct national security interest and any action that could disrupt the ecosystem requires our full attention.”
Emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to the cadets and midshipmen training at VMI, Parnell promised that the War Department has the right to take the “extraordinary measures” to protect the institution.
“We urge the Virginia General Assembly to consider the broader implications of this bill on military readiness, as well as the federal government’s long-standing investment in this critical institution,” he said.
Parnell’s words will come as a relief to cadets and their families who have watched the developments of the last few weeks with concern.
Michael Ferrara, a VMI student, told Fox News in late January that he chose the school because he wanted to serve his country. He and his fellow cadets are proud of the long legacy of accomplished fighters that have emerged from VMI: “We’ve had approximately 300 generals and flag officers coming from the Virginia Military Institute. We’ve had seven Medal of Honor recipients, 11 Rhodes Scholars, one Nobel Prize winner.”
Ferrara and his roommate, Devin Auzenne, brushed aside allegations that VMI is not inclusive enough.
“My two roommates, they look nothing like me, come from completely different places, worship different gods,” said Auzenne. “My roommates … these are the people who I can call my brothers, my family, my friends, and anytime I ever need them, they’ll always be here for me. I can say VMI is the most inclusive environment that I have ever been a part of.”
.png)
.png)
