Maintaining Academy Culture and Assuring Retention of Tradition, Honor, and Unity of the Republic Act (MACARTHUR) Act

Senate Bill

S. 215

119th Congress

Maintaining Academy Culture and Assuring Retention of Tradition, Honor, and Unity of the Republic Act (MACARTHUR) Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 23, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Ted Cruz

Senator

Republican

TX

Cosponsors

4

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Summary

The MACARTHUR Act requires the Department of the Army to amend the United States Military Academys mission statement to include the phrase Duty, Honor, Country. This responds to a 2024 decision to remove the phrase from the mission statement. The bill aims to preserve traditional values and heritage associated with West Point and its graduates, including General Douglas MacArthur who popularized the motto.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The MACARTHUR Act requires the Department of the Army to amend the United States Military Academys mission statement to include the phrase Duty, Honor, Country. This responds to a 2024 decision to remove the phrase from the mission statement. The bill aims to preserve traditional values and heritage associated with West Point and its graduates, including General Douglas MacArthur who popularized the motto.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Maintaining Academy Culture and Assuring Retention of Tradition, Honor, and Unity of the Republic Act (MACARTHUR) ActThis bill requires the Department of the Army to amend the mission statement of the United States Military Academy to include the phrase “Duty, Honor, Country.”

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires Duty, Honor, Country in West Point mission statement
Responds to 2024 removal of the phrase
References General MacArthur legacy
Mandates Army Department action
Preserves traditional military academy values

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation addresses controversy over changes to West Points mission statement that removed the historic Duty, Honor, Country motto. The phrase, closely associated with General MacArthurs 1962 farewell address, is considered by many to embody core military values. The bill represents congressional intervention to preserve traditional military institutional identity.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Subjects

Higher education

Military education and training

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

215, 119th Congress (2025). "Maintaining Academy Culture and Assuring Retention of Tradition, Honor, and Unity of the Republic Act (MACARTHUR) Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-215