The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy campus is “unworthy of the greatest country in the world,” but fixing it is now a priority, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy promised Monday at the academy’s 2025 commencement ceremonies at Kings Point, N.Y.
“You all have faced so many challenges over the last four years,” Duffy told the 207 graduating Merchant Marine and military officers. “For years, this institution has been neglected by Congress and mismanaged. The campus has been allowed to fall into disrepair.”
“It’s unbecoming of a national service academy. It’s unfair given the depth of the sacrifices you have made, and it’s unworthy of the greatest country in the world.”
In his address Duffy reeled off the academy’s longstanding physical deterioration and disruptions, including suspension of cadets’ Sea Year semesters during Covid-19.
“You all are the class of no hot water for months...not enough food…paper plates and plastic forks…You all are the class of dorms with mold and a dilapidated, falling apart library,” said Duffy. “I saw the old tar dripping from the ceilings. I saw the dorms rotting with mold. I saw the rusty showers with no hot water. I also saw no work from the previous administration to bring your campus to the standard of a United States service academy.”
Duffy spoke of attending the academy’s Battle Standard Dinner in April, where “I found before me the most remarkable group of men and women whose spirts simply could not be broken. I saw a group that despite being disrespected and uncared for were more passionate than ever about serving their country.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you for the sacrifices you made to get to this point,” said Duffy. The graduates’ “commitment to service, despite hardships, has inspired everyone at the Department of Transportation to work harder than ever to fix this place so no one else has to go through what you went through,” he said.
Among the 2025 class, 84 graduates were sworn in as active-duty officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard, according to a summary from DOT officials. The remaining graduates will serve as Navy reservists in the Strategic Sealift Officer Program while working as United States Coast Guard-Licensed Mariners aboard deep-sea vessels, offshore supply vessels, tugs, and towing vessels.
