According to American media, this decision will be implemented at the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year. Students, including cadets and midshipmen who are already in training, will be able to complete their programs; however, no new enrollments will take place.
Pete Hegseth characterized Harvard as a "breeding ground for globalist and radical ideologies," which, in his opinion, do not align with the goals of the U.S. Armed Forces.
"Too many of our officers return from Harvard with a worldview saturated with globalist and radical ideas. We are training warriors, not activists," the Secretary of Defense noted.
As of September 2025, more than 100 cadets and midshipmen, as well as 78 veterans, were studying at Harvard.
Interestingly, Pete Hegseth himself is a graduate of this university, having earned a master's degree in public policy.
The Pentagon clarified that the decision to terminate cooperation with Harvard is part of a broader review of military training programs at civilian educational institutions. A possible reassessment may also affect other well-known universities.
This severance of academic ties marks another stage in the protracted conflict between the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and the country's leading educational institutions. Previously, the government threatened Harvard with the suspension of federal grants and contracts worth billions of dollars, demanding institutional changes and initiating several investigations into the university.
