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The Department of War announced Friday it will terminate all professional military education, fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s ongoing confrontation with elite academic institutions.
In a video statement shared on social media, War Secretary Pete Hegseth declared the department would sever ties with the Ivy League institution for active-duty service members beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. Hegseth, himself a Harvard Kennedy School graduate, described the decision as “long overdue.”
“Harvard is woke; The War Department is not,” Hegseth stated bluntly in his announcement.
The secretary acknowledged the military’s “rich tradition” with Harvard but argued the university has transformed into one of the “red-hot centers of Hate America activism.” He specifically criticized faculty members who he claims “openly loathe our military” and “cast our armed forces in a negative light.”
“They’ve replaced open inquiry and honest debate with rigid orthodoxy,” Hegseth said, adding that the institution “squelches anyone who challenges their leftist political leanings, all while charging enormous tuition.”
This decision comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced he is seeking $1 billion in damages from the university. The administration has made Harvard a central target in its campaign to leverage federal funding to address what it characterizes as antisemitism and “woke” ideology on campus.
The conflict has already seen significant legal action. Trump administration lawyers recently appealed a judge’s order that would restore $2.7 billion in frozen federal research funding to Harvard. The university sued the administration in April over the funding freeze, arguing in court filings that the move constituted an unconstitutional “pressure campaign” designed to control elite academic institutions.
Hegseth’s criticism extended beyond political concerns. He alleged Harvard research programs have partnered with the Chinese Communist Party and claimed university leadership has fostered an environment that “celebrates Hamas, allows attacks on Jews, and prioritizes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.”
“Why should the War Department support an environment that’s destructive to our nation and the principles that the vast majority of Americans hold dear?” Hegseth asked rhetorically. “The answer to that question is that we should not, and we will not.”
The secretary expressed particular concern about the impact of Harvard education on military officers. “For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard, hoping the university would better understand and appreciate our warrior class,” he said. “Instead, too many of our officers came back looking too much like Harvard — heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks.”
The policy change may extend beyond Harvard. Hegseth indicated the Pentagon would evaluate existing graduate programs for active-duty service members at all Ivy League schools and other civilian universities in the coming weeks.
“The goal is to determine whether or not they actually deliver cost effective strategic education for future senior leaders, when compared to, say, public universities and our military graduate programs,” he explained. “At the War Department, we will strive to maximize taxpayer value in building lethality to establish deterrence.”
This move represents one of the most concrete actions in the administration’s broader campaign against what it perceives as liberal bias in higher education. The higher education sector has already felt significant impacts from administration policies, with reports indicating universities have eliminated over 9,000 positions in 2025 alone as federal funding cuts take effect.
Harvard University did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the War Department’s decision.
“We train warriors, not wokesters. Harvard, good riddance,” Hegseth concluded in his announcement.
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7 Comments
This move raises questions about academic freedom and the role of politics in military education. It will be important to closely examine the specific claims made by the Pentagon and Harvard’s response.
I agree, transparency and a balanced perspective will be crucial in assessing the merits of this decision.
The Pentagon’s accusations of “Hate America activism” at Harvard are quite serious. I’m interested to see if there is solid evidence to support those claims or if this is more of a political move.
This is an interesting development in the ongoing tensions between the military and academia. I’m curious to hear more about the specific grievances the Pentagon has with Harvard and whether this will set a precedent for other universities.
The military has historically benefited from the expertise and research capabilities of universities like Harvard. I wonder how this decision will impact the professional development of service members and the overall relationship between the armed forces and higher ed.
This is a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. I hope cooler heads can prevail and a middle ground can be found to maintain productive collaboration between the military and academia.
While I can understand concerns about political bias in academia, severing all ties seems like a drastic step. I hope there is room for constructive dialogue to address issues while preserving valuable educational opportunities for the military.