Defense Cuts College Trips, Calls Ivy Schools “Woke” Hotbeds
Pentagon Bans Military Students from “Woke” Universities
The Pentagon has announced it will no longer send soldiers to graduate programs at several top U.S. universities, citing those institutions as “woke breeding grounds.” The ban will take effect in the 2026‑27 academic year.
- Background
The move follows a prior decision that ended military training and fellowship programs at Harvard, part of ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Ivy League schools.
- Defense Secretary’s Rationale
- The Secretary of Defense warned that sending officers to these schools could undermine the values they pledged to protect.
- He claimed universities have shifted from teaching practical military strategy to promoting “wokeness” and weakness.
- Critique of Higher Education
Hegseth called the institutions “factories of anti‑American resentment and military disdain,” arguing they replace hard thinking with radical dogma, stifling free expression.
- Personal Context
Despite his criticism, the defense secretary earned degrees from Princeton and Harvard. He has pledged a comprehensive review of war colleges to ensure they focus solely on producing effective leaders and fighters.
- Implications
- The decision raises questions about balancing academic enrichment with maintaining a disciplined, patriotic military culture.
- It also highlights ongoing debates over higher education’s role in shaping national security perspectives.
