State Legislation and Higher Education

Virginia lawmakers have retreated from an earlier proposal that could have cut off state funding to the Virginia Military Institute after intense pushback from VMI cadets, Republicans and the Trump administration’s Department of War. House Bill 1377, which originally would have empowered a task force to revoke VMI’s state funding, was amended and passed the Virginia House last week with that authority removed; it now only orders a review of the school’s policies as the measure heads to the state Senate. A separate bill, HB 1374, was also rewritten: instead of dissolving VMI’s Board of Visitors and transferring control to Virginia State University, it now merely restructures the board. The War Department had publicly warned it was watching HB 1374 with "significant concern" and reserved the right to take "extraordinary measures to protect the integrity of VMI," calling the school a vital commissioning source and a matter of national‑security interest. Cadet leaders quoted in the piece say they are relieved that the amended bills no longer threaten the institution’s survival and argue VMI should be judged on cadets’ character and performance, while GOP critics blame Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger and "far‑left" agendas for targeting the college in the first place.