Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said his department was ending professional military education, fellowships and certificate programmes with Harvard University, marking the Trump administration's latest escalation against the school.

Friday's move by Hegseth continues President Donald Trump's administration attack on top US universities, including Harvard, over a range of issues such as pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's assault on Gaza, diversity programs, transgender policies and climate initiatives.

"Starting now and beginning in the 2026-27 school year, I ‍am discontinuing all graduate level Professional Military Education, all fellowships and certificate programmes ⁠between Harvard University and the War Department for active duty service members," Hegseth, who himself holds a master's ‍degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, said on X.

The policy will apply to service members enrolling in future programmes while those currently enrolled will be allowed to finish their courses, he said.

He also added that the Pentagon would evaluate similar relationships with other universities in the coming weeks.

Rights advocates ‌have raised free speech, academic freedom and due process concerns over the government's actions against universities.

The university has previously sued the Trump administration over the government's attempt to freeze federal funding.

Hegseth accused Harvard of "hate America activism," also calling the university antisemitic in a reference to pro-Palestinian protests.

Protesters, including ⁠some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly equates criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

Harvard has condemned discrimination on campus. Its antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces found last year that Jews and Muslims faced bigotry after ‌the start of Israel's war in Gaza following an October 2023 ‍Hamas attack.

Trump's attempts to freeze federal funds for Harvard have faced legal resistance and the two sides have failed to reach a deal thus far.

Trump said this week his administration was seeking US$1 billion from Harvard to settle probes into school policies. (Reuters)