The U.S. Department of Defense has severed its academic ties with Harvard University, including graduate-level military training and related programs, citing Harvard’s perceived woke ideology and anti-American radicalism as the reason.

The review extends to other Ivy League institutions in the coming weeks as part of a broader assessment of external partnerships with the defense department.

Historically a focal point of the administration’s university reforms, Harvard’s funding and enrollment have faced pressure, though related federal actions have encountered legal challenges.

The report on the move is attributed to Bloomberg as the source.

Some conservatives praised the decision as a signal that federal partnerships require loyalty and shared values, while critics question its legal viability and potential impact on future administrations.

Supporters argue the move shifts defense funding toward institutions that emphasize national service, while critics warn it could politicize defense research and hamper innovation.

Negotiations to restore federal funding stalled after a brief pause, with renewed demands including a large new condition proposed by the White House.

The term woke appears in coverage as part of the broader debate surrounding campus ideology and its influence on national leadership pipelines.

The core tension centers on who defines acceptable thought in institutions shaping national leadership, and how this affects military education and civil-military trust.

The decision signals a wider review of external academic partnerships and could reshape leadership development pipelines for the armed services.

Rights advocates warn about implications for free speech, academic freedom, and due process as the government targets universities in funding policy disputes.

Harvard’s response frames the move as a review of statements with continued collaboration in security and technology, stressing decades of joint work with government agencies.