Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War will immediately end attendance at several elite universities for military education programs beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year. Speaking in a video message, Hegseth said the policy would apply to institutions including Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, MIT, Brown, Yale, and others, arguing that many elite schools have promoted ideological views that conflict with the military’s mission.
“For too long, the Ivy League and similar institutions have been subjecting our warriors to woke indoctrination—those days are over,” Hegseth said, adding that the Pentagon would no longer send senior military officers to graduate programs that, in his view, undermine the values they have sworn to defend.
Hegseth also announced a comprehensive review of military academic partnerships and service college curricula. He said military education should concentrate on national security, strategic planning, and real-world warfighting instead of diversity, equity, inclusion, and other social issues. According to Hegseth, senior service colleges should prepare officers for modern battlefield challenges rather than political or ideological debates.
The Pentagon chief further criticized universities that he claimed fail to prioritize American interests. He said institutions receiving military participation should support the nation’s security and prosperity instead of contributing to the advancement of America’s strategic rivals. Calling the change “common sense,” Hegseth said the Defense Department would hold itself accountable by ensuring military education remains focused on producing effective leaders.
As part of the initiative, Hegseth ordered a “top-to-bottom” review of U.S. colleges involved in military education programs. He said the goal is to restore institutions as centers of strategic thought dedicated to developing the world’s most capable military leaders.
Concluding his remarks, Hegseth offered a message of support to U.S. service members. He acknowledged that some academics may criticize the military but assured troops that the Department of War stands firmly behind them. He said future military education would be grounded in the nation’s founding principles, emphasizing peace through strength, patriotism, and putting American interests first.
