Hegseth declares ‘good riddance’ to America’s oldest institution claiming they are training ‘wokesters’ instead of warriors

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just dropped a huge announcement: the Pentagon is officially cutting all academic ties with Harvard University. It’s the latest flash point in the Trump administration’s long-running feud with the nation’s oldest university. The Defense Secretary made it clear that he believes Harvard is no longer the right place to develop effective military personnel. 

In a statement released on Friday, Hegseth lamented that the department has mistakenly been sending its “best and brightest officers” to Harvard, hoping the institution would gain a better appreciation for the military’s “warrior class.” However, he believes the opposite is true. He said that too many officers came back “looking too much like Harvard,” which he defined as having “heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks.”

That’s a pretty blunt assessment, and he followed it up with an even stronger dismissal. According to the Washington Post, Hegseth accused Harvard of becoming “one of the red-hot centers of ‘hate America’ activism.” He also noted that Harvard’s enormous tuition is “not worth it.” He concluded his statement with a clear mission statement and a final goodbye: “We train warriors, not wokesters. Harvard, good riddance.”

There is no place for ‘wokeness’ in the Trump Administration

So, what exactly is changing? The Pentagon will end graduate-level professional military education, fellowships, and certificate programs at the school. This cutoff is set to begin in the 2026-2027 school year, allowing for currently enrolled cadets, midshipmen, and veterans to finish their course.

The Defense Secretary stated that the Pentagon will be reviewing all graduate programs for active-duty service members at other civilian universities, including the entire Ivy League. The goal is simple: determine if these programs actually deliver “cost-effective strategic education for future senior leaders.” He wants to compare the value these expensive civilian programs offer versus what public universities and established military graduate programs provide.

It’s interesting to note that Hegseth himself knows the institution well, having earned a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School back in 2013. However, he publicly repudiated that degree in 2022, scribbling “return to sender” on his diploma during a segment on a television program where he worked as co-host at the time. 

This decision is the latest conflict in Trump’s outspoken desire to make colleges and universities “sane,” particularly in response to the pro-Palestinian campus protests. The government has been using funding as leverage to push for academic and diversity changes. Ties with Harvard have been especially tense since the University hit back at every turn, even suing the Trump administration over visa bans and the funding freeze. 

This action is also consistent with Hegseth’s track record as defense secretary. He has already purged the military of DEI programs and “woke” student courses and has issued warnings to other organizations to institute “core value reforms.” It’s clear Hegseth is dedicated to reshaping military education and culture.