According to Hegseth, the Pentagon will no longer send service members for training at Harvard starting with the 2026-2027 academic year. This applies to postgraduate professional military education programs, scholarships, and certificates. However, those service members who are already studying will be able to complete their courses. “For a long time, we sent our best officers to Harvard in the hope that the university would better understand and appreciate our contingent, but many of them returned with ideologies that do not contribute to strengthening our ranks,” the minister noted. Hegseth also emphasized that Harvard has had important ties with the military since 1775, when General George Washington commanded the Continental Army, using the university as a military base. “Before the Korean War, military service was a common practice for Harvard students. We see that more Medal of Honor recipients studied at this university than at any other institution in the country,” he added. Nevertheless, the minister stressed that today Harvard is not a suitable place for training service members and does not create a friendly atmosphere. Hegseth also expressed concern about the university's ties with foreign states and a culture that contradicts American and military values. “The university collaborated with the Communist Party of China, and its leadership fostered an atmosphere that supported Hamas and attacks on Jews, promoting racial discrimination in violation of Supreme Court decisions,” he noted. In the coming weeks, the Pentagon also plans to review its relationships with other universities.
