Pentagon Severing Connections with 'Woke' Harvard, Halting Military Training
The Pentagon has officially announced the termination of its relationship with Harvard University, ceasing all military training, fellowships, and certificate programs associated with the prestigious institution.
This decision represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard, stemming from demands for institutional reforms that have gone unheeded.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth articulated the rationale behind this move, stating that Harvard "no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services." He elaborated, "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. 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."
In a pointed remark on social media, Hegseth declared, "Harvard is woke; The War Department is not," underscoring the ideological divide that has fueled this decision.
Effective from the 2026-27 academic year, the Pentagon will halt graduate-level professional military education and related programs at Harvard. Current students will be allowed to complete their courses, but no new enrollments will be accepted.
Hegseth indicated that similar programs at other Ivy League institutions will undergo scrutiny in the coming weeks, suggesting a broader reevaluation of military partnerships with elite universities.
Interestingly, Hegseth himself is a Harvard alumnus who symbolically returned his diploma during a 2022 Fox News segment. A Pentagon social media account recently highlighted this moment, showcasing Hegseth's discontent with the university's direction.
The military traditionally provides its officers with various educational opportunities at both military-run war colleges and civilian institutions like Harvard. While attending prestigious civilian schools may not directly enhance a servicemember's military career, it often makes them more appealing candidates in the civilian job market post-service.
Harvard has been a focal point for President Trump's administration, which has sought to impose its ideological framework on leading universities. The administration has previously cut billions in federal research funding to Harvard and attempted to restrict its enrollment of foreign students after the university resisted government demands last April.
The White House claims it is penalizing Harvard for allowing anti-Jewish bias on campus, while Harvard's leadership contends they are facing unlawful retaliation for not conforming to the administration's views. In response, Harvard has filed lawsuits against the administration, with a federal judge ruling in favor of the university in both cases. The administration is currently appealing these decisions.
Despite a brief period of reduced tensions over the summer when Trump hinted at a potential agreement, negotiations have since stalled. Recently, Trump escalated his demands, seeking $1 billion from Harvard as part of any potential deal to restore federal funding—double his previous request.
