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American Dental Education Association


Volume 3, No. 76, April 10, 2025

U.S. Naval Academy No Longer Considers Race in Admissions
 
The United States Naval Academy has changed its admissions policy to eliminate the consideration of race, according to a court filing [ [link removed] ] made by the Trump administration. This policy change stems from directives, issued by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling for the Department of Defense to eliminate any race or sex-based preferences, including in admissions. Following these directives, the Naval Academy Superintendent, Vice Adm. Yvette M. Davids revised the Academy’s internal guidance to prohibit the consideration of race in admissions.
 
The policy shift could potentially resolve an ongoing legal battle over the military academy’s admissions practices. In December 2023, the Supreme Court [ [link removed] ] prohibited the use of affirmative action in college admissions. However, citing national security reasons, the Supreme Court allowed military academies to continue to consider race in their admissions policies. This exception led to lawsuits filed by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA). This organization was also the lead plaintiff in the successful affirmative action case against Harvard.
 
In the case [ [link removed] ] against the Naval Academy, Students for Fair Admissions argued that the Academy's use of race in admissions should be prohibited. However, federal district court Judge Richard D. Bennett supported the Supreme Court’s carve-out, noting that diversity in leadership has been a priority for the military for decades, especially after historical racial unrest, such as during the 1960s. The judge cited the importance of having an Officer Corps that represents the diverse composition of the military and the country it defends. Despite these efforts, there remains a significant underrepresentation of racial minorities among officers, even though more than half of enlisted service members are racial minorities. Bennett concluded that the Academy had shown a compelling need for racial diversity in its officer corps to ensure national security.
 
While the plaintiffs argued for race-neutral alternatives to achieve diversity, the Court found that no such alternatives would meet the government’s needs for diversity in the Officer Corps. The ruling [ [link removed] ] upheld the Naval Academy’s approach, stating it does not use quotas or admissions tracks based solely on race. The decision was seen as a victory for the military’s diversity efforts.
 
SFFA appealed the ruling and is currently awaiting a trial date.
 
The Trump administration has requested that the Court pause the case for 60 days to give the administration time to discuss their most recent filing with SFFA so that they can determine whether to continue pursuing an appeal of a ruling that had allowed the Academy to maintain its race-conscious admissions.
 
SFFA also has pending lawsuits against the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Air Force Academy, challenging their race-conscious admissions policies.

Senate Passes New Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2025
 
In the early morning hours of Saturday, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 to adopt a Senate amendment to the U.S. House of Representatives passed budget resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 14. The measure now returns to the House for final approval. Concurrent Resolutions do not require the President Trump’s signature and do not become law, but they are binding upon the Congress. A budget resolution establishes a framework by which Congress will consider changes to spending and revenue legislation in a Reconciliation bill, which will require the President’s signature to become law.
 
The Senate amendment to H. Con. Res. 14 would require committees of the House and Senate to produce legislation that either raises or lowers the federal fiscal deficit by specified amounts through legislation to be reported from each committee by May 9. For instance, the House Committees that control Medicaid, the National Institutes of Health and higher education were directed to reduce the deficit by $1.218 trillion whereas the Senate Committee that has jurisdiction over those entities is directed to reduce the deficit by $1 billion.
 
ADEA will be closely monitoring any actions that affect those areas and other areas of interest to oral health.

Canada Announces Final Phase of National Dental Plan Implementation
 
The Canadian government announced that all eligible groups [ [link removed] ] will be able to enroll in the country’s dental plan beginning in May. The expansion will mark the completion of a gradual rollout [ [link removed] ] of the program that was previously only open to children under the age of 18 and individuals over the age of 65. The program is open to all Canadian residents who lack dental insurance and whose adjusted family income is less than $90,000 CAD.
 
The plan covers [ [link removed] ] a variety of specified diagnostic, preventive, basic and major services. Case-by-case coverage of orthodontic services is expected to be added in 2025.

Georgia General Assembly Sends Faculty Licensure Changes to Governor
 
The Georgia General Assembly has voted to send legislation to Gov. Brian Kemp (R) that would simplify the process for obtaining a faculty license for dentists who did not graduate from a Commission on Dental Accreditation- (CODA-) accredited dental program.
 
If enacted, the bill would eliminate most of the state’s current requirements for obtaining a faculty license, including requirements to complete advanced training programs. The bill would instead require an applicant to have held a license to practice dentistry in another state, territory or country. They must also submit a letter from the dean of the dental school that employs the applicant that verifies the applicant has met the dental school’s credentialing standards. Additionally, applicants must have done the following:
 • Never failed the state’s licensure examination,
 • Never had a license revoked and
 • Hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate.

The bill also clarifies that faculty license holders will be restricted to practice dentistry only while engaged in the performance of the licensee’s duties as an employee of the accredited school or college, or only in connection with programs or training clinics affiliated with or endorsed by such school or college.

Arkansas Governor Signs Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact
 
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed legislation [ [link removed] ] that allows the state to join the Dentist and Dental Hygienist (DDH) Compact [ [link removed] ] .
 
The DDH Compact is currently in the implementation phase. The Compact Commission [ [link removed] ] is holding regular meetings and discussing rules for implementation. Each member state will appoint one Commissioner selected by the state’s licensing authority.
 
Once implemented, the compact will establish a pathway for licensure portability for dentists and dental hygienists licensed in member states. Licensees residing in compact member states can apply for a “compact privilege,” allowing them to practice in another member state. According to the model compact developed by The Council of State Governments, license holders will be eligible to apply for compact privilege if they meet the following criteria:
 • Hold an unencumbered license as a dentist or dental hygienist in a compact member state.
 • Graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
 • Successfully complete a clinical assessment for licensure, defined as an examination or process required for licensure that provides evidence of clinical competence in dentistry or dental hygiene.
 • Pass the National Board Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations or another examination accepted by rule as a requirement for licensure.
 • Meet any jurisprudence requirements.
 • Complete a criminal background check.
 • Submit an application and pay applicable fees.
 • Comply with requirements to submit specified information for administrative purposes.

The compact has been adopted by 11 states [ [link removed] ] and legislation to join the compact is currently active in 14 states.

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ADEA Advocacy in Action
This appears weekly in the ADEA Advocate to summarize and provide direct links to recent advocacy actions taken by ADEA. Please let us know what you think and how we might improve its usefulness.
 
Issues and Resources
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on teledentistry
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
 • ADEA policy brief [ [link removed] ] regarding overprescription of antibiotics
 • For a full list of ADEA memos, briefs and letters click here [ [link removed] ] .

Key Federal Issues [ [link removed] ]

ADEA U.S. Interactive Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Map [ [link removed] ]

Key State Issues [ [link removed] ]

The ADEA Advocate [ [link removed] ] is published weekly. Its purpose is to keep ADEA members abreast of federal and state issues and events of interest to the academic dentistry and the dental and research communities.
 
©2025
American Dental Education Association
655 K Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-289-7201
Website: www.adea.org [ [link removed] ]

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B. Timothy Leeth, CPA
ADEA Chief Advocacy Officer
 
Bridgette DeHart, J.D.
ADEA Director of Federal Relations and Advocacy
 
Phillip Mauller, M.P.S.
ADEA Senior Director of State Relations and Advocacy
 
Contact Us:
[email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ]

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