The Defense Department announced it will end graduate-level military education, fellowships and certificate programs with Harvard beginning in the 2026–27 academic year. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Harvard “no longer meets the needs of the War Department,” marking the latest escalation in the administration’s pushback against elite universities. The move follows prior White House actions that reduced federal research funding and sought policy changes at Harvard; the Pentagon said current personnel may finish enrolled programs but new enrollments will be halted. The decision signals a widening review of civilian graduate partnerships across Ivy League institutions and could affect officer professional development pipelines and post-service civilian employment pathways that rely on elite-university credentials.