Pete Hegseth ends War Department’s academic ties with 'woke' Harvard

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the War Department will end its academic relationships with Harvard University, arguing that the school no longer provides the kind of education the military needs and that its campus culture is incompatible with the department’s mission.

In remarks announcing the decision, Hegseth said, “For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard,” adding that many returned “heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks.” He added in a social media post, "Harvard is woke; The War Department is not."

The shift takes effect beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year. Current service members enrolled in Harvard programs will be allowed to complete their courses of study, Hegseth said.

Hegseth acknowledged the university’s historical connection to the US military. He referenced the Revolutionary War-era use of Harvard Yard as a military staging area and said Harvard alumni have played prominent roles in American service through the Korean War. He also highlighted the number of Medal of Honor recipients who attended Harvard, calling it evidence of what he described as a once-strong relationship.

But Hegseth argued that Harvard is no longer “a welcoming institution to military personnel” and no longer the right venue to develop future leaders. He cited concerns about Harvard’s international partnerships and what he described as an “on-campus culture” that conflicts with military and American values.

Among the issues he raised were Harvard research collaborations with foreign entities, which he said are tied to the Chinese Communist Party, as well as the university’s handling of recent campus unrest following the Oct 7 massacre. Hegseth accused university leadership of fostering an environment that “celebrated Hamas,” tolerated antisemitic attacks, and continued to promote race-based discrimination despite Supreme Court rulings.

The move, he said, could be a first step rather than a one-off. In the coming weeks, the department and military services will review similar academic relationships elsewhere, with a focus on whether they offer value compared with public universities and military-run graduate programs. “We will evaluate all existing graduate programs for active-duty service members at all Ivy League universities and other civilian universities,” Hegseth said, describing the review as a cost-effectiveness test for strategic education aimed at future senior leaders.

Hegseth framed the shift as part of a broader refocus on combat readiness. Going forward, he said, the War Department will prioritize “developing warriors, increasing lethality and reestablishing deterrence,” and will not continue what he described as spending “billions of dollars” at institutions that “actively undercut our mission and undercut our country.”

Hegseth earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School, but in 2022, wrote "return to sender" on his diploma on Fox News as a protest against the woke institution.