The Pentagon has severed all ties with Harvard University, ending decades of military training partnerships and educational programs in a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s confrontation with America’s elite universities.
Defense Secretary Announces Complete Break
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that Harvard no longer meets the needs of the military services. The decision terminates all graduate-level professional military education, fellowships, and certificate programs starting with the 2026-27 academic year. Current military personnel attending Harvard classes will be permitted to complete their ongoing coursework before the program ends permanently.
Hegseth criticized Harvard’s influence on military officers, stating that too many returned with globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve fighting capabilities. He declared on social media that Harvard represents woke ideology while the War Department does not. The Defense Secretary previously earned a Harvard master’s degree but symbolically returned his diploma during a 2022 television appearance, writing “return to sender” across the document.
Broader Campaign Against Elite Universities
This action represents the latest development in President Trump’s systematic pressure campaign against prestigious universities. The administration has already cut billions in federal research funding to Harvard and attempted to block foreign student enrollment after the university rejected government demands last April. Similar programs at other Ivy League institutions face evaluation in the coming weeks, signaling potential additional cuts.
Legal Battle Continues
The White House justifies these measures as punishment for alleged anti-Jewish bias on campus, while Harvard leadership argues that they face illegal retaliation for refusing to adopt the administration’s ideological positions. Harvard has filed multiple lawsuits challenging the government’s actions, with federal judges initially ruling in the university’s favor. The administration is appealing these decisions while demanding one billion dollars from Harvard as part of any potential restoration deal.