Dr. Adam Kalkstein, a civilian geography professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was terminated following the spring semester after resisting directives to remove content about anthropogenic climate change from his curriculum, according to court documents filed in U.S. district court for the southern district of New York.
Kalkstein, who taught at the institution for 17 years, stated that he objected to curriculum modifications during a November 2025 meeting with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, then dean of West Point’s academic board. The professor characterized the directive as immoral and potentially unlawful, drawing a comparison to teaching law without discussing constitutional principles. According to the lawsuit, Reeves responded by exiting the meeting and stating that Donald Trump, as commander in chief, determined West Point’s agenda.
Kalkstein’s attorney, Michael Sussman, told the New York Times that his client, identified as a conservative Republican, believes military cadets require accurate information about climate change causes for national security purposes. Sussman characterized the position as nonideological. The lawsuit alleges that Kalkstein first encountered threats to his employment in May 2025, when West Point announced plans to reduce civilian staff while simultaneously establishing a new humanities center requiring geography instructors. Kalkstein agreed to transition to temporary employment status, forfeiting tenure protections and severance entitlements.
The case represents a second legal challenge to academic freedom policies at West Point. Law professor Tim Bakken filed separate litigation regarding Trump administration directives requiring civilian faculty to obtain approval before publishing or delivering speeches. West Point recently dropped its challenge to a preliminary injunction in Bakken’s case, with parties agreeing in principle to pursue a permanent resolution.
West Point stated in a statement that it was aware of allegations in Kalkstein’s case and takes such matters seriously but declined additional comment pending litigation. The academy did not respond to questions about the specific curriculum modifications ordered.
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