US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on 6/2 that the Pentagon will sever ties with Harvard University, stating the institution "no longer meets the needs" of the US military. This decision, effective from the 2026-2027 academic year, will halt professional military postgraduate education programs, research scholarships, and certifications. Military personnel currently enrolled at Harvard, however, may still complete their courses.

Hegseth criticized Harvard for what he described as a shift in its educational philosophy. "For too long, we have sent our brightest and best officers to Harvard hoping they would better understand and appreciate our warrior class", Hegseth stated. "Instead, too many officers have returned looking too much like Harvard, their minds filled with extreme and globalist ideologies, which do not help improve the fighting force." In a separate post on social media platform X, the Secretary of Defense explicitly declared that Harvard adheres to "woke" ideology, while the Pentagon does not. Woke is a term referring to heightened awareness of societal prejudices such as racism, sexism, or discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the White House in 12/2025. *Photo: AFP*

The Pentagon will review similar programs at other Ivy League universities in the coming weeks. The Ivy League is a group of 8 prominent private universities in the Northeastern US. The US military provides officers with many opportunities to participate in postgraduate education programs at military universities, as well as at civilian institutions such as Harvard. While military personnel studying at prominent civilian institutions like Harvard yield fewer direct career benefits compared to those in civilian roles, these training courses make them more appealing to employers after leaving service.

This latest development is part of an ongoing confrontation between President Donald Trump's administration and Harvard University, stemming from reform demands the White House placed on the esteemed institution.

The Trump administration previously cut billions of USD in research funding to Harvard and sought to ban the university from admitting international students. These actions followed the school's rejection of a series of government reform demands in 4/2025. The White House stated it is penalizing Harvard for tolerating antisemitic ideology within the institution, while the university argues it is being illegally retaliated against for not accepting the administration's views.

Harvard filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration, and a federal judge supported it in both cases. The Trump administration is appealing these rulings. Tensions had eased last summer, when the US President hinted at an impending agreement with Harvard University. However, this agreement did not materialize.

On 2/2, Trump demanded the university pay one billion USD in compensation if it wished to have federal funding restored, double the previously mentioned amount.

Pham Giang (According to AP)