A sweeping order came down Friday, effectively severing ties between the Department of War and a roster of prestigious universities. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the “complete and immediate cancellation” of all departmental attendance programs at institutions including Princeton, Columbia, MIT, Brown, and Yale, beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
The decision isn’t limited to those schools, Hegseth stated, extending the ban to “many others.” He leveled a harsh accusation: the nation’s higher education system has been fundamentally compromised, betrayed by elite universities that have allegedly abused their access and privilege.
This announcement follows a similar ban earlier this month, specifically targeting Harvard University and barring active-duty service members from attending. The Secretary’s words painted a picture of institutions that have long benefited from public funds, only to turn against the values they were meant to serve.
For decades, Hegseth argued, these universities have “gorged themselves” on taxpayer dollars, transforming into what he described as “factories of anti-American resentment and military disdain.” The core of the problem, he asserted, lies in a shift away from practical strategy and the pursuit of victory.
Instead, Hegseth claimed, these institutions now prioritize “wokeness and weakness,” replacing rigorous study with ideological indoctrination. He didn’t mince words: “This is not education, this is indoctrination.”
The Department of War, he declared, will no longer fund what it considers a corruption of its own leadership. The message was stark: the department is finished subsidizing ideologies that actively oppose its core principles and the values sworn to by those in uniform.
Hegseth emphasized the critical need to protect future leaders, stating they will not be sent to programs that undermine the very foundations of their commitment. The department refuses to invest in institutions that foster disdain for the military and the nation it defends.
The response isn’t solely punitive; a comprehensive internal review is underway. This will focus on the Department’s own war colleges, aiming to restore them as centers of strategic thought. The goal is to ensure these institutions once again prioritize the development of highly effective and lethal leaders and warfighters.
