PENTAGON CUTS HARVARD TIES: WHAT HAPPENS TO SERVICE MEMBERS ALREADY ENROLLED?

The Pentagon’s decision to end its academic relationship with Harvard raised immediate questions for service members currently enrolled or planning to attend via military programs.

Many service members are left asking, what happens now?

To address this uncertainty, defense officials have explained the practical impact, offering a more straightforward answer than many expected amid this major transition in military-academic cooperation.

What the Pentagon Just Announced

The Department of War confirmed it will stop taking part in graduate-level education, fellowships, and certificate programs at Harvard University starting with the 2026–27 academic year.

“The @DeptWar is formally ending ALL Professional Military Education, fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University,” Hegseth said in a statement posted on X.

In Secretary Hegseth’s video posted on social media, he cited a problem with the relationships Harvard has with foreign powers, and an on-campus culture that is incongruent with military and American values and interests. He explains,

"Campus research programs have partnered with the Chinese Communist Party," he said. "And 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."

This change affects DoW-sponsored professional military education and fellowship programs, but not all types of military connections with Harvard.

What This Means for Those Already Enrolled

Service members who are already attending Harvard through Pentagon programs will not experience any changes to their studies.

“Service members currently attending Harvard University through existing Department of Defense programs will be permitted to complete their course of study,” the spokesperson said.

This means current students will not have their programs cut short. Defense officials stressed that the decision only affects future students and does not apply to those already enrolled.

What Changes for Future Applicants

The change starts with the 2026–27 academic year. Service members who have not yet started a Harvard program with Pentagon support should expect these opportunities to end. Future assignments will be redirected or stopped, depending on each service’s guidance.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this decision represents part of a larger review of how the military trains its future leaders.

“We are not going to outsource the intellectual development of our future military leaders to institutions that do not correspond to the core values of the Department of Defense,” Hegseth said.

The Pentagon has not yet said whether any schools will replace the programs offered at Harvard.

Is Harvard the Only School Under Review?

Pentagon leaders have indicated that this decision affects more than just one university.

“This is not about one university,” Hegseth said. “We are reviewing all partnerships to ensure they support readiness, war-fighting, and the mission of the force.”

No other universities have been named yet, and officials have not given a timetable for when the wider review will be finished.

An Important Distinction for Military and Veteran Students

The Pentagon’s decision affects programs funded by the Department of War, such as fellowships and professional military education sponsored by the services.

It does not affect Veterans or students using VA education benefits, like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, if they are not sponsored by the DoW. Harvard University echoed that distinction in its response.

“Harvard is still committed to educating members of the military and veteran community and will continue to support students through programs administered independently of the Department of Defense,” a university spokesperson said.

Veterans and service members who use VA benefits still follow VA approval rules, not Pentagon fellowship agreements.

What Service Members Should Do Now

For those already enrolled in Pentagon programs, officials say nothing changes. Students should finish their studies as planned.

Service members who were hoping for future Harvard opportunities should check their service’s official education channels for updates on other programs.

Veterans and others using VA education benefits should keep checking school eligibility with VA-approved tools, since these programs are separate from Defense Department decisions.

For now, the Pentagon’s message is clear: current students can finish, but the future of military academic partnerships is changing quickly.

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