Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Bans Military Attendance at Ivy League and Elite Universities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a sweeping ban on Department of War personnel attending several elite universities, including Princeton, Columbia, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brown, and Yale, effective with the 2026-27 academic year. The directive, unveiled on February 27, 2026, marks an expansion of a similar policy Hegseth imposed earlier this month on Harvard University.
Hegseth characterized these institutions as “factories of anti-American resentment and military disdain,” accusing them of betraying their purpose and abusing their privileged access to military resources. He declared the higher education system “poisoned from within” by what he described as a class of “so-called elite universities” that have exploited American taxpayer dollars while fostering what he termed “wokeness and weakness.”
The ban will bar Department of War attendees from enrolling at these universities and many others, signaling a significant shift in the Pentagon’s engagement with some of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions. This move follows a broader review of the Department’s relationships with U.S. universities, a process Hegseth initiated to assess the alignment of military educational programs with national security interests.
While the Department of War has historically partnered with top-tier universities to provide advanced education and training to service members, Hegseth’s announcement reflects growing tensions over ideological and cultural issues within higher education. The Secretary’s decision has ignited debate over the role of military personnel in academic settings and the influence of political and social movements on campus.
Critics argue that barring military attendance at these universities could limit opportunities for service members seeking advanced degrees in critical fields such as engineering, technology, and international relations. Supporters of the ban contend it is a necessary step to protect the military from what they view as corrosive influences and to reaffirm patriotic values.
The Department of War’s tuition assistance programs, which have long facilitated military education at institutions across the country, will be adjusted to comply with the new policy. This change is expected to impact hundreds of service members who had planned to attend these Ivy League and elite schools.
For more information on the Department of War and its educational policies, visit the U.S. Department of Defense website. Details on federal tuition assistance programs can be found through the DoD Memorandum of Understanding portal. The broader context of military education initiatives is also outlined by the U.S. Army Education office.
As the 2026-27 academic year approaches, the implications of this ban will unfold, potentially reshaping the intersection of military service and higher education in America.
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