The Pentagon has decided to end academic ties with Harvard University, accusing the oldest university institution in the US of being a center of "anti-American activism."
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced in a video published on the X platform that the Department of Defense will discontinue postgraduate military training programs, scholarships and certifications that were developed in collaboration with Harvard.
According to Hegseth, the university no longer aligns with the Pentagon's priorities of "military strength" and "deterrence," calling Harvard a "hotbed of globalist radicalism." He said that American officers who have been sent there to study have returned "filled with radical ideology."
The decision comes amid ongoing clashes between the Trump administration and Harvard. President Donald Trump has also threatened to sue, seeking $1 billion in damages from the university, which he accuses of spreading misinformation and anti-American attitudes.
The Pentagon also alleges that several Harvard research programs have collaborated with institutions affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. According to reports, between 2010–2025, Harvard received about $560 million from Chinese sources.
The charges also include the management of pro-Palestinian protests on campus, where the Trump administration claims attacks on Jewish students were tolerated.
The decision will take effect in the fall, and military personnel currently studying at Harvard will be allowed to complete their programs. Harvard has not yet officially responded.
