WASHINGTON: The US Department of Defense announced on Friday that it will cut its academic partnerships with Harvard University, marking a significant shift in how the Pentagon approaches higher education for military personnel.
Under the decision, the Pentagon will phase out all military education programs linked to Harvard, including fellowships, certificate courses, and professional military education initiatives.
The transition will begin in the 2026–2027 academic year, with service members currently enrolled permitted to complete their studies, according to AFP.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the move reflects the department’s evolving priorities and its focus on cultivating leadership grounded in military readiness and strategic effectiveness.
“For years, the department invested in sending some of its most talented officers to Harvard with the expectation that the experience would strengthen our leadership corps,”
Hegseth said in a statement. “Going forward, we are reassessing whether these programs align with the values, mindset, and operational needs of today’s force.”
The decision comes amid an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and Harvard University, with officials alleging that the institution promotes ideological perspectives inconsistent with the Pentagon’s mission.
In a separate post on X, Hegseth underscored the department’s stance, writing: “Harvard is woke; The War Department is not.”
The Pentagon also announced it will conduct a comprehensive review of its academic relationships with other Ivy League institutions.
According to Hegseth, the evaluation will focus on whether such partnerships provide cost-effective and strategically relevant education compared with public universities and existing military graduate programs.
“The goal is to ensure our future senior leaders receive education that directly strengthens national defense capabilities,” he said.
Hegseth himself is a graduate of both Princeton University and Harvard University.
The former Fox News host has previously voiced criticism of Harvard’s policies and culture, and media reports have noted that he once returned his Harvard degree as a symbolic protest.
The announcement follows broader tensions between the Trump administration and major universities.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said the administration would seek $1 billion in damages from Harvard, after reports indicated the university had secured limited concessions during ongoing settlement talks with the federal government.
Administration officials have also accused Harvard and other institutions of failing to adequately protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian campus protests.
Legal complaints have been filed, and universities have faced demands for significant financial penalties. These actions have prompted concern among academics and university leaders.
Several scholars, including a former president of Harvard, have warned that sustained federal pressure on universities could undermine academic freedom and institutional independence.
The Trump administration has previously attempted to cut more than $2.6 billion in federal funding to Harvard and has taken steps to restrict the enrollment of international students, who make up roughly a quarter of the university’s student population.
As the Pentagon reassesses its educational partnerships, officials say the emphasis will remain on aligning academic training with national security priorities and the evolving demands of military leadership.
