This is a lawsuit brought by Students for Fair Admissions against the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Department of Defense, and various officials in their official capacities. The plaintiff alleges that West Point's admissions process, which considers race as a factor for admission, is unconstitutional. The plaintiff argues that West Point has strayed from its historical emphasis on merit and achievement and now focuses on race. The plaintiff contends that there is no justification for using race-based admissions and that such admissions are unconstitutional for public institutions of higher education. The plaintiff seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to declare West Point's admission policy unlawful and to stop the practice of race-based admissions. The lawsuit also argues that West Point's use of race in admissions perpetuates the use of race indefinitely and lacks a logical end point. It challenges West Point's justifications for using race, claiming that they lack evidentiary support and rely on misguided assumptions about soldiers' views on race and trust. Additionally, the lawsuit disputes the claim that racial diversity enhances the military's internal functioning and external legitimacy. It asserts that there is no evidence to support these claims and that diversity should be based on objective measures of competency rather than race. The lawsuit further argues that a lack of racial metrics between the officer and enlisted corps would not harm societal trust and recruiting efforts, pointing to the current recruiting crisis faced by the Army despite the use of racial preferences. The plaintiff, a member of Students for Fair Admissions, is a white high school student who wishes to apply to West Point but believes that his race may prevent him from competing on an equal footing for admission. The lawsuit claims that West Point's admissions policy violates the Fifth Amendment, specifically the equal protection principle, and argues that West Point's use of racial classifications in admissions must satisfy strict scrutiny and employ measures that are narrowly tailored to further compelling government interests. It argues that West Point's racial preferences do not meet this standard and are not based on remedying recent acts of discrimination or making individuals whole. The lawsuit also disputes West Point's purportedly compelling interests in organizational cohesion, forming culturally aware leaders, ensuring societal legitimacy, and safeguarding public trust, arguing that these justifications have been rejected by the Supreme Court. It argues that West Point's racial preferences are simply racial balancing and fail to articulate a meaningful connection between the means employed and the goals pursued. The lawsuit claims that the government has not provided evidence or reasoning to support its use of race in admissions or identified any studies, reports, or experiments that consider race-neutral alternatives. It also argues that West Point's admissions program operates on stereotypes and violates equal protection by engaging in outright racial balancing. The lawsuit asserts that West Point's use of race in admissions lacks a logical end point and would perpetually rely on race. The lawsuit disputes the notion that courts must defer to West Point's assertions as a military academy and argues that courts have the responsibility to decide cases and controversies, even in the military context. The plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment that West Point's use of race in admissions is unconstitutional, as well as preliminary and permanent injunctions prohibiting West Point from considering or knowing applicants' race in admissions decisions. The lawsuit also requests additional relief, including attorney's fees and costs.