A new proposal to launch a U.S. Public Service Academy has drawn much attention. Two essays provide a provocative look at this ambitious policy proposal.

Divergent viewpoints on the necessity and practicality of a national university of public service.

The notion of a U.S. Public Service Academy can be traced to George Washington’s vision of a national university located in the nation’s capital. Such a university, Washington and his supporters believed, could develop national leadership, set a standard for academic excellence, and help bind the nation together. Today, this...