Defense Secretary Hegseth Cuts Pentagon Ties With Harvard
Pentagon will end all Harvard graduate-level military education, fellowships and certificates beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
Overview
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Feb. 6, 2026 that the Pentagon will discontinue all graduate-level professional military education, fellowships and certificate programs with Harvard University beginning in the 2026-27 academic year and that current service members may finish enrolled courses, he said in a statement and in a post on X.
The decision escalates a months-long standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard over federal research funding and campus unrest after President Donald Trump sought $1 billion as part of a proposed settlement, the administration said.
Harvard sued the administration, argued the funding cuts amounted to illegal retaliation, and a federal judge ordered the restoration of $2.7 billion in frozen federal research funding, according to court records.
Hegseth said the department will review similar graduate programs at other Ivy League and civilian universities in coming weeks and cited concerns about "woke" ideology and alleged foreign research ties to justify the change, he said on X.
The administration is appealing the judge's orders and legal challenges are pending, leaving Pentagon program reviews and court appeals to play out amid conflicting accounts from Hegseth and Harvard leaders who say they are being unlawfully targeted.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Pentagon action as politically motivated retaliation, highlighting a pattern of funding cuts and legal setbacks for the administration while clearly attributing charged rhetoric to officials. They juxtapose performative gestures and administration claims with court rulings, Harvard’s history with the military, and settlement deals to suggest broader partisan aims.
Sources (8)
FAQ
The Pentagon is ending all graduate-level professional military education (PME), fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
Hegseth cited concerns over 'woke' ideology, alleged foreign research ties including partnerships with China's Communist Party, and the university's unfitness to train future U.S. military leaders.
Current service members may finish their enrolled courses, but the policy applies to those enrolling in future courses.
The decision escalates a standoff over federal research funding, where the administration sought $1 billion in a settlement, Harvard sued claiming illegal retaliation, and a judge ordered restoration of $2.7 billion in frozen funds; appeals are pending.
Yes, the department will review similar graduate programs at other Ivy League and civilian universities in coming weeks.
History
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