Pentagon to Cut Ties with Elite Universities, Citing 'Anti-American Resentment'

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the government will no longer subsidize 'the corruption of our own uniform class'.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will discontinue academic programs with several elite universities, including Princeton, Yale, Brown, MIT, and Harvard, ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year. Hegseth accused these institutions of 'becoming factories of anti-American resentment and military disdain' and said the government will no longer subsidize 'the corruption of our own uniform class'.

Why it matters

This move reflects growing concerns from the Trump administration about perceived political bias and lack of viewpoint diversity at top universities. The administration has been critical of colleges promoting progressive ideology and has sought to incentivize institutional neutrality on political and social issues.

The details

Hegseth said the federal service academies - West Point, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard - will also be reviewed 'top to bottom' for 'indoctrination.' He is an alumnus of Princeton and Harvard, which he has previously criticized for their 'leftist ideology.' The Pentagon chief said there should be a 'sacred trust' between the military and academic institutions, which he claims has been 'broken' and 'poisoned from within.'

  • On Feb. 6, Hegseth announced ties will be cut with Harvard University.
  • The new policy will go into effect ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.

The players

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Secretary of War under President Donald Trump's second term.

Princeton University

An Ivy League university that will lose its Pentagon academic programs.

Yale University

An Ivy League university that will lose its Pentagon academic programs.

Brown University

An Ivy League university that will lose its Pentagon academic programs.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

A prestigious university that will lose its Pentagon academic programs.

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What they’re saying

“For decades, the Ivy League and similar institutions have gorged themselves on a trust fund of American taxpayer dollars only to become factories of anti-American resentment and military disdain.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War (X)

“The Department of War is finished subsidizing the corruption of our own uniform class. We're done paying for the privilege of our enemies' wicked ideologies to be taught to our future leaders. We've had enough. We demand that senior services colleges work to sharpen our war fighters on genuine national security issues, not social justice activism.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War (The Epoch Times)

What’s next

The federal service academies - West Point, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard - will be reviewed 'top to bottom' for 'indoctrination' as part of this new policy.

The takeaway

This decision reflects the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to address perceived political bias and lack of viewpoint diversity at elite universities, which it sees as undermining the military's core mission and values. The move is likely to further inflame tensions between the government and academia over the role of higher education in shaping future military leaders.