Hegseth Drops a Bomb on the ‘Wokesters’ at Harvard University [WATCH]

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the War Department will end its academic partnerships with Harvard University for active-duty service members beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, citing concerns about cost, ideology, and what he described as the university’s hostility toward the U.S. military and American values.

Hegseth outlined the decision while discussing what he said is a broader effort to refocus the department on mission readiness, fiscal discipline, and developing effective military leaders.

“As part of my commitment to restore the warrior ethos within the War Department, it’s imperative to stay mission-focused across the full spectrum of expenditures,” Hegseth said. “This includes maximizing our return on investment.”

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

Hegseth said that while officers have long been sent to elite civilian universities, the results no longer justify the expense.

“When officers and senior listed service members attend expensive civilian universities, graduates should emerge much more capable war fighters, you’d think,” he said.

“But unfortunately, America’s highly ranked universities no longer live up to their founding principles as bastions of free speech, open inquiry, and committed to the American values that make our country great.”

He singled out Harvard University, noting its historical ties to the U.S. military while arguing that the institution has sharply diverged from that legacy.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“Take Harvard University, for example, I know it well,” Hegseth said. “Our military has had a rich tradition with Harvard throughout American history. In 1775 you probably didn’t know this, General George Washington took command of the Continental Army in Harvard Yard and used the university as a military base.”

Hegseth said that tradition continued for generations.

“From that time through the Korean War, military service was commonplace at Harvard,” he said.

“There are more recipients of our nation’s Medal of Honor who went to Harvard than any other civilian institution in the United States.”

However, he argued that Harvard today no longer reflects that history.

“But today, this university, with such a unique history, which receives billions of our federal tax dollars is one of the Red Hot centers of hate America activism,” Hegseth said.

“Too many faculty members openly loathe our military. They cast our armed forces in a negative light and squelch anyone who challenges their leftist political leanings, all while charging enormous tuition. It’s not worth it.”

Hegseth said the academic environment at Harvard is incompatible with the needs of the military.

“They’ve replaced open inquiry and honest debate with rigid orthodoxy,” he said.

“In our line of work, ideological automatons are useless. We need leaders who can wrestle with multiple viewpoints, professionals who can think critically and independently to solve important questions.”

He also criticized Harvard’s research partnerships and campus culture.

“Even more troubling is Harvard’s partnership with our adversaries,” Hegseth said.

“Campus research programs have partnered with the Chinese Communist Party.”

He further accused the university of tolerating antisemitism and discrimination.

“University Leadership encouraged a campus environment that celebrated Hamas, allowed attacks on Jews and still promotes discrimination based on race in violation of Supreme Court decisions,” he said. “Dei was literally founded at Harvard.”

Hegseth credited President Donald Trump with taking action against what he described as systemic abuses.

“Thankfully, President Trump understands this and has moved to end these abuses,” he said.

“He called out Harvard for being a factory of woke ideology and a breeding ground for anti American radicals.”

Hegseth referenced a prior action by the administration.

“Last year, the Trump administration put Harvard on notice,” he said.

“Quote, Harvard has fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from anti semitic violence and harassment, in addition to other alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 end quote.”

Hegseth said the War Department should not continue supporting such an institution.

“Why should the War Department support an environment that’s destructive to our nation and the principles that the vast majority of Americans hold dear?” he said.

“The answer to that question is that we should not and we will not.”

He argued that sending officers to Harvard has produced negative results.

“For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard, hoping the university would better understand and appreciate our warrior class,” Hegseth said.

“Instead, too many of our officers came back looking too much like Harvard, heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks.”

Hegseth announced the policy change.

“So starting now and beginning in the 2026 2027 school year, I am discontinuing all graduate level professional military education, PME, all fellowships and certificate programs between Harvard University and the War Department for active duty service members,” he said.

He said currently enrolled service members will generally be allowed to complete their studies.

“Now, any currently enrolled service members will be allowed to finish their course of study, with some exceptions,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth said the review will extend beyond Harvard.

“The Ivy League as a whole has pervasive institutional bias and a lack of viewpoint diversity,” he said.

“That is why, in two weeks time, components of all of our departments, Army, Navy and Air Force will evaluate all existing graduate programs for active duty service members at all Ivy League universities and other civilian universities.”

He said the goal is to ensure taxpayer funds are used effectively.

“The goal is to determine whether or not they actually deliver cost effective, strategic education for future senior leaders,” Hegseth said.

“We will strive to maximize taxpayer value in building lethality to establish deterrence.”

Hegseth concluded by emphasizing the department’s priorities.

“We train warriors, not wokesters,” he said.

“Harvard, good riddance.”

WATCH:

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.