Virginia Democrats blasted for threatening historic military college VMI with funding threat over DEI concerns
VMI has produced leaders including UN Ambassador Mike Waltz and Trump's Chairman of Joint Chiefs Lt. Gen. Dan Caine
By Preston Mizell Fox News
Published January 24, 2026 8:00am EST
Virginia Democrats in the state’s House of Delegates introduced a resolution on Tuesday that would establish a task force to investigate the Virginia Military Institute and determine if the historic military college should continue to receive funding.
The move is the latest of Virginia Democrats’ efforts to reinvigorate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy in the state after much of the DEI mandates and policies were revoked after President Donald Trump was elected in 2024.
"This takes away from VMI, takes away from its mission," Virginia Republican Congressman Rob Wittman told Fox News Digital. "I think that it's harmful to the Commonwealth of Virginia, harmful to VMI as an institution, harmful to all the incredible military leaders and community leaders that have come out of VMI."
"It's just reprehensible that they would even go down this road," Wittman added. "But, it seems to be what's happening in Richmond."
Wittman, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, represents the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and parts of the Peninsula of Virginia. He attended Virginia Tech University and was a member of the core of cadets, which he says had a friendly rivalry with VMI.
VMI was founded in 1839, making it the oldest public senior military college in the country. VMI has had several notable graduates, including sitting Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, and Lt. Gen. John "Dan" Caine, Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
more
https://www.foxnews.com/us/virginia-democrats-blasted-threatening-historic-military-college-vmi-funding-threat-over-dei-concerns
