On February 27, 2026, the Secretary of War signed the "Aligning Senior Service College Opportunities with American Values" memorandum, directing the Department of War to strategically refocus the education of senior military leaders to ensure alignment with the warrior ethos, the National Defense Strategy (NDS), and American values.
The Department will discontinue selected graduate-level Professional Military Education fellowships and certificate programs beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, including programs at Harvard University and other legacy Senior Service College (SSC) fellowships that no longer meet the Department's standards for rigor, realism, and mission relevance. Service members and Department civilians currently enrolled in affected programs will be allowed to complete their courses of study. This action builds upon the Secretary's February 6, 2026, memorandum, "Rebuilding the Warrior Ethos in Professional Military Education," and reflects the Department's commitment to ensuring taxpayer resources are invested in programs that strengthen warfighter readiness and develop strategic leaders capable of critical, independent thought.
These actions continue the Department's broader "Rapid Force-Wide Review of Military Standards," reinforcing the Secretary's commitment to high standards, educational excellence, and the development of military leaders prepared to win the Nation's wars.
The memoranda can be found here.
