On Friday, February 6th, the Department of Defense announced that it would completely terminate all professional military education (PME), scholarships, and certificate programs with Harvard University. This move signifies an escalation of sanctions against the Ivy League institution by the Trump administration.
According to Pete Hegseth, the head of the Department of Defense, starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, active-duty military personnel will no longer be sent to Harvard for further education, and academic connections between the two entities will be severed. However, currently enrolled military personnel at Harvard will be allowed to complete their existing studies.
Hegseth, who holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School, criticized his alma mater harshly. He explained, “For a long time, we have been sending our best officers to Harvard in the hope that the university would better understand and appreciate our warriors. However, the reality is quite the opposite, with many officers returning ‘too Harvard,’ filled with globalist and radical ideas that do not contribute to enhancing our military readiness.”
Reflecting on history, Hegseth noted Harvard’s close relationship with the military, citing examples such as General George Washington taking command of the Continental Army on the university campus in 1775. He highlighted Harvard as a common place for military service up to the end of the Korean War and noted the high number of Harvard alumni who have received the Medal of Honor.
Hegseth shifted the focus to Harvard’s current alleged close ties with “foreign hostile forces” and its divergence from normal American campus culture, military values, and its unwelcoming attitude towards servicemen, stating that Harvard is no longer a suitable place for cultivating military personnel.
Further pointing fingers at Harvard’s relationship with “foreign hostile forces,” Hegseth mentioned the university’s research collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party and its leadership’s tolerance of an atmosphere endorsing Hamas terrorism, anti-Semitism, and policies that violate Supreme Court rulings on racial discrimination.
Hegseth’s rhetoric echoes investigations by the US government and media into Harvard, suggesting that the university has become a “backyard” for the Chinese Communist Party. Reports have revealed substantial funds flowing from the CCP and its affiliates to Harvard, positioning it as a training ground for future CCP officials and their relatives and potentially involving the transfer of sensitive technologies.
In July 31, 2025, a US Congressional committee investigating the CCP found that Harvard had been cooperating with the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Organization Department for a decade, aiding in providing systematic training for future CCP leadership. Lawmakers warned that the worrying connections between Harvard and the CCP pose a threat to US national security.
The Shanghai Observer, a publication under the Shanghai Liberation Daily, wrote in a 2014 commentary that if there were a ranking for “overseas party schools” for the CCP, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government would undoubtedly be at the top.
As a result, the Trump administration has taken actions to freeze federal funding to Harvard and warned of restricting its ability to enroll international students. Harvard has appealed this decision, but to date, no resolution has been reached between the two parties.
Hegseth emphasized that this ban is just the beginning. In the coming weeks, the Department of Defense and various military branches will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their cooperation with other Ivy League schools and private universities to determine if the costly private programs can truly provide cost-effective strategic education for future military leaders compared to public universities or military academies.
He expressed his hope that the Department of Defense would focus on training warriors, enhancing lethality, and rebuilding deterrence, stating that spending billions on constructing expensive universities, which actually weaken their mission and the country, is no longer viable.
In a video posted on social media, Hegseth remarked that America’s top-ranked universities no longer uphold their founding principles, free speech, or academic pursuit, nor do they strive to cultivate the great American values. He criticized them for becoming centers of “anti-America” fervor, with many faculty openly expressing hatred towards the US military, portraying the military negatively, and suppressing dissenting voices through various means.
In conclusion, Hegseth stated, “We train warriors, not so-called ‘Woksters.’ Finally, we are now free from Harvard.”