Tenured position eliminated
The complaint alleges the academy eliminated Adam’s tenured position because he taught that human activity contributes to climate change.
Complaint ¶¶ 23–34, 88–90Pending federal litigation
The West Point case.
A concise overview based on the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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Overview
What the lawsuit concerns.
Adam alleges that West Point violated his First Amendment rights through actions involving his climate-science teaching, a directive about classroom content, and the later nonrenewal of his term appointment.
The filing asks the court for injunctive relief protecting academic freedom, reinstatement to a tenured position, compensatory damages, fees and costs, and a jury trial.
Important: The case is pending. These statements describe allegations in the complaint; they have not been established by a court.
The complaint
Three challenged actions.
This chronology separates the events and avoids presenting allegations as established facts.
Classroom directive relayed
It alleges faculty were ordered to remove human causes of climate change from their courses and warned that the department could be dissolved if the matter reached media or politicians.
Complaint ¶¶ 35–51, 91–92Term appointment not renewed
It alleges West Point declined to continue Adam’s grant-funded appointment after he objected that the restriction required him to misrepresent the science.
Complaint ¶¶ 57–83, 93–96Primary source
Read the complaint transcript.
The full text supplied by Adam is available without a paywall. It is clearly labeled as a transcript rather than a stamped docket PDF.
Filed August 24, 2026 · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York