Key facts
- West Point's only climate scientist, Dr. Adam Kalkstein, was fired after the spring semester.
- Kalkstein alleges he was ordered to stop teaching about the human causes of climate change.
- He reportedly told Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves, then dean, that the order was immoral and illegal.
- Kalkstein's lawsuit claims a breach of his First Amendment rights to free speech.
- The lawsuit was filed in US district court for the southern district of New York.
The only climate scientist at West Point, Dr. Adam Kalkstein, was fired after refusing an order to stop teaching about the human causes of climate change, according to a lawsuit.
Kalkstein, a civilian professor of geography, claims he was terminated after a meeting in November 2025 with Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves, then dean of the academic board. During the meeting, Kalkstein reportedly called the order to remove climate change content immoral and potentially illegal, comparing it to teaching law without mentioning the Constitution.
Reeves allegedly responded by storming out and stating that Donald Trump, as commander in chief, set the agenda for West Point. The lawsuit, filed in the US district court for the southern district of New York, accuses West Point of breaching Kalkstein's First Amendment rights.
Kalkstein's attorney, Michael Sussman, stated that Kalkstein is a conservative Republican who believes military students need to know the truth about climate change for national security reasons. Sussman emphasized that Kalkstein's stance is not ideological.
Kalkstein reportedly first learned his position was threatened in May 2025 due to planned civilian staffing reductions. He was offered a 'term employee' position, which he accepted despite losing tenure and severance benefits, fearing colleagues would have to cover his classes if he quit.
The lawsuit follows a similar legal action by Tim Bakken, West Point's longest-serving law professor, who also faced restrictions on academic freedom under a Trump administration policy. The US Military Academy has agreed to work towards a permanent solution in Bakken's case.
West Point acknowledged the allegations and stated it takes such matters seriously but declined further comment due to pending litigation. Trump has previously referred to the climate emergency as a "hoax" or "scam."