Pentagon to End Harvard Partnership Over 'Woke' Ideology

Defense Secretary Hegseth cites concerns over anti-military bias and Chinese ties at the university.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Defense announced it will end its academic partnership with Harvard University, citing the school's 'woke' ideology and alleged anti-military bias. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Harvard has become a 'factory for woke ideology' and is no longer a welcoming institution for military personnel.

Why it matters

The decision to end the longstanding partnership between the Pentagon and Harvard marks a significant escalation in tensions between the U.S. military and some of the country's top academic institutions, which have faced growing criticism from conservatives over perceived left-leaning biases.

The details

In a video announcement, Hegseth said all professional military education, fellowships and certificate programs at Harvard will be formally ended starting with the 2026-2027 school year. He alleged that Harvard research programs work with the Chinese Communist Party, university leadership has encouraged celebrations of Hamas, and the university 'promotes discrimination based on race.' The Pentagon said the decision was made because attendance at Harvard 'no longer meets the needs' of the military.

  • The Pentagon's partnership with Harvard dates back to before the American Revolution.
  • The decision to end the partnership will take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Since President Donald Trump's inauguration in 2025, Harvard has faced increased scrutiny from the Trump administration.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Secretary of Defense who announced the decision to end the Pentagon's partnership with Harvard.

Harvard University

The prestigious private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts that has had a long-standing academic partnership with the U.S. military.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who was re-elected in 2024 and whose administration has increased scrutiny of Harvard and other universities.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense (Breitbart)

“Harvard is no longer a welcoming institution to military personnel or the right place to develop them.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense (Breitbart)

What’s next

The Pentagon said it will evaluate all existing graduate education programs for active-duty members of the military at Ivy League and other universities to determine if they provide cost-effective strategic education compared to public universities or military graduate programs.

The takeaway

This decision reflects the growing ideological divide between the U.S. military and some of the country's top academic institutions, which conservatives have increasingly accused of promoting 'woke' and anti-military agendas. The move could have significant implications for the future relationship between the Pentagon and elite universities.