A decisive break has been made. The Department of War, under Secretary Pete Hegseth, has officially severed ties with Ivy League universities and other elite institutions deemed to be centers of “woke indoctrination.” This sweeping action marks a fundamental shift in how the nation’s future military leaders are educated and prepared for conflict.
For years, a quiet erosion of core values has been taking place within professional military education. The concern wasn’t a lack of academic rigor, but a deliberate infusion of ideologies perceived as detrimental to national security. A “curriculum of contempt,” as described by Secretary Hegseth, had taken root, subtly undermining the warrior ethos and fostering resentment towards the very nation these officers swore to defend.
The change is immediate and far-reaching. Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, attendance at institutions like Princeton, Columbia, MIT, Brown, and Yale will be completely canceled. This includes all graduate fellowships, professional military education courses, and Pentagon subsidies – effectively cutting off the flow of taxpayer dollars to programs deemed incompatible with national defense.
This isn’t simply about politics; it’s about priorities. Secretary Hegseth was unequivocal: the military’s mission is to “fight and win wars,” not to engage in “globalist submission” or “social justice activism.” The focus must return to strategic thinking, combat readiness, and the foundational principles upon which the Republic was built.
The decision extends beyond simply withdrawing personnel. A comprehensive review of all military war colleges and internal Department of War education programs is underway. The goal is to ensure that every aspect of military education reinforces the core mission and prepares officers for the realities of modern warfare, free from ideological interference.
The Secretary’s message to the warriors is clear: the Department of War stands firmly behind them. Despite potential scorn from academic elites, their patriotism and sacrifice are valued and supported. This is a commitment not only from the War Department, but from the American people themselves.
This action follows an earlier decision to end ties with Harvard University, signaling a broader pattern of reassessment. The Department of War determined Harvard’s programs no longer aligned with the requirements of professional military education, a conclusion that prompted a similar, decisive response.
The core of the issue, as articulated by Secretary Hegseth, is a betrayal of trust. These institutions, once seen as partners in developing the nation’s finest military leaders, had instead become “factories of anti-American resentment.” The Department of War will no longer subsidize what it considers a calculated assault on the core of the fighting force.
