• Pentagon announces the end of all ties with Harvard University, effective from the 2026-27 academic year.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims Harvard's ideology does not align with military needs.
• The decision follows a longstanding conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard concerning educational reforms.
• Current participants in programs will complete their courses, while future enrollments will be halted.
• This move is part of a broader crackdown on academic institutions perceived as 'woke'.

The Pentagon has announced its decision to terminate all military training, fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University, taking effect from the 2026-27 academic year. This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing feud between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution regarding educational reforms. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated, "Harvard no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services," emphasizing that the institution has failed to foster a beneficial understanding of military culture among officers trained there, according to CBS News, India Times, and South China Morning Post.

Secretary Hegseth criticized the educational influence of Harvard, claiming that returning officers came back "looking too much like Harvard – heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks". The Pentagon will also review similar educational ties with other Ivy League institutions in the near future, highlighting a broader trend of reassessment regarding military affiliations with elite universities. This information has been reported by CBS News and India Times.

The administration has long viewed Harvard as a central figure in its campaign against perceived anti-American sentiments in academia, with accusations of the university harboring "hate America activism." This recent decision dovetails with significant reductions in federal funding for Harvard, which the Trump administration asserts is a response to the university's alleged tolerance of antisemitism and other ideologies. Harvard has countered that these actions represent unlawful retaliation against its academic freedom and have initiated legal proceedings in response, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

This development highlights the polarized environment over academic policies, especially in relation to free speech and the role of universities in public discourse. Hegseth, who holds a master's degree from Harvard, symbolically returned his diploma in protest during a media segment, further reflecting the administration's sentiments towards prestigious educational institutions. The military traditionally allows officers to pursue education at select civilian and military colleges, offering them competitive career opportunities post-service, according to CBS News, India Times, and South China Morning Post.