The Pentagon announced Friday that it is cutting all military training, fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University, citing a misalignment between the Ivy League institution and the needs of the U.S. military. The decision, effective with the 2026–27 academic year, ends decades of graduate-level professional military education offered to officers at Harvard.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated, “Harvard no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services. 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 post on X, Hegseth added, “Harvard is woke; The War Department is not.”

Current personnel enrolled in Harvard programs will be allowed to finish their courses, but no new military fellowships or professional education programs will be offered. The move comes amid a prolonged standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard, stemming from disputes over campus policies, diversity initiatives, and allegations of anti-Jewish bias.

Harvard has historically been a target of the administration’s efforts to hold elite universities accountable. Officials have previously cut billions in federal research funding and sought to restrict foreign student enrollment after the university resisted government demands in 2025. The Pentagon’s withdrawal of military programs adds another layer to the ongoing conflict, potentially costing Harvard millions in federal support tied to these programs.

The decision underscores the administration’s broader campaign to align U.S. educational partnerships with national defense priorities, reflecting concerns that exposure to “woke” ideologies could negatively influence the military’s officer corps. By severing ties with Harvard, the Pentagon signals a continued focus on ensuring military education aligns with the values and operational needs of the U.S. armed forces.