Dr. Adam Kalkstein, a civilian geography professor at the U.S. Military Academy, was fired following the spring semester this year after resisting directives to remove content about anthropogenic climate change from his curriculum. Kalkstein, who held the position for 17 years, reportedly told Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves during a November 2025 meeting that eliminating such material from course instruction was morally and potentially legally problematic.
The confrontation resulted in Reeves departing the meeting after stating that Donald Trump, as commander in chief, had set the academy’s agenda. Kalkstein’s legal action represents the second academic freedom lawsuit filed by a West Point educator. Tim Bakken, a longtime law professor, previously challenged policies requiring civilian faculty to obtain approval before publishing or delivering speeches, eventually obtaining a preliminary injunction that the academy chose not to contest.
According to court filings, Kalkstein first encountered employment pressure in May 2025 when West Point leadership announced staffing reductions while simultaneously establishing a new humanities center requiring additional geography instructors. He accepted a transition to term employment, forgoing tenure protections and severance benefits. The directive against teaching human-caused climate change followed in September, with tensions escalating at the subsequent meeting with Reeves.
Kalkstein’s attorney characterized his client as a conservative Republican who views understanding climate causation as essential to military readiness and national security interests. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, contends the academy violated First Amendment protections. West Point acknowledged awareness of the allegations but declined further comment pending litigation. The case reflects broader patterns of policy shifts affecting military institutions under the current administration, including prior directives addressing curriculum and institutional materials.
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