Hegseth orders military education overhaul as House impeachment push builds

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a sweeping overhaul of the military's professional education system in a memo dated Nov. 9, Newsweek reported. The order covers the Senior Service Colleges and Intermediate Level Education schools, which train mid-career and senior officers. ¹

The memo says military education has strayed from its central purpose. It criticizes what Hegseth called "academic drift." He argues schools put theory and ideological concerns ahead of practical military preparation. ¹

There is no substitute for victory.

What the memo requires

Military departments must report initial curriculum and institutional changes within 90 days. Within 180 days, schools must set up standardized assessments, including mandatory wargames and exams. They must also create new "Warfighter Chair" positions for experienced commanders. ¹

Newly hired civilian educators would get performance-based contracts. Military experience would count for more in the classroom. Bigger curriculum changes, including more teaching on joint warfare, military history and artificial intelligence, are due in the 2027-28 academic year. ¹

From Channel GOPJeffries backs Massie's resolution to impeach HegsethHakeem Jeffries · 180 plays · captioned, with the source named

The memo also directs more instruction on constitutional principles, civil-military relations and the legal duties of commissioned officers. The Pentagon's Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness will review progress at least every 60 days. ¹

Part of a longer campaign

This is not Hegseth's first move on officer education. In early March, the Associated Press reported that he had removed more than a dozen elite colleges from the Senior Service College Fellowship. That program had fewer than 80 students across the 15 universities cut. ²

The Pentagon also barred graduate-level professional military education at Harvard, the AP reported. Lindsey Tepe of the American Council on Education called it the start of a broader effort to reshape military education. ²

Pete Hegseth has got to go.

The impeachment fight

The memo arrives as Massie, a Kentucky Republican, says he will bring his eight-article impeachment resolution against Hegseth back to the House floor. It was first introduced in September and alleges military operations without congressional authorization and violations of the War Powers Resolution. ¹

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on ABC's "This Week" that he is a "hard yes." He said the caucus would discuss the matter when Congress returns. ¹

Hegseth called Massie's articles "sham articles of impeachment" in a video last week. House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a Republican, recently acknowledged "a lot of questions about Hegseth." ¹

Newsweek said it had asked the Defense Department and the White House for comment. The memo's critics have not yet been heard from in the wire copy. ¹

That matters because the order reaches the schools that shape future generals and admirals. Congress and veterans' groups are likely to ask what the changes mean for officers' training while the Iran war remains a political flashpoint. ¹

The Record

1. Mar 5, 2026AP reports Hegseth removed more than a dozen elite colleges from the Senior Service College Fellowship and barred graduate-level military education at Harvard. ²
2. Nov 8, 2026Jeffries tells ABC's This Week he is a "hard yes" on impeaching Hegseth. ¹
3. Nov 9, 2026Hegseth signs memo ordering an overhaul of professional military education, with deadlines of 90 to 270 days. ¹

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<h2>Hegseth orders military education overhaul as House impeachment push builds</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/hegseth-orders-military-education-overhaul-as-house-impeachment-push-builds">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 9, 2026.</em></p> <p>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a sweeping overhaul of the military&#39;s professional education system in a memo dated Nov. 9, Newsweek reported. The order covers the Senior Service Colleges and Intermediate Level Education schools, which train mid-career and senior officers.</p> <p>The memo says military education has strayed from its central purpose. It criticizes what Hegseth called &quot;academic drift.&quot; He argues schools put theory and ideological concerns ahead of practical military preparation.</p> <blockquote><p>There is no substitute for victory.</p><p>&mdash; Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, Republican</p></blockquote> <h2>What the memo requires</h2> <p>Military departments must report initial curriculum and institutional changes within 90 days. Within 180 days, schools must set up standardized assessments, including mandatory wargames and exams. They must also create new &quot;Warfighter Chair&quot; positions for experienced commanders.</p> <p>Newly hired civilian educators would get performance-based contracts. Military experience would count for more in the classroom. Bigger curriculum changes, including more teaching on joint warfare, military history and artificial intelligence, are due in the 2027-28 academic year.</p> <p>The memo also directs more instruction on constitutional principles, civil-military relations and the legal duties of commissioned officers. The Pentagon&#39;s Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness will review progress at least every 60 days.</p> <h2>Part of a longer campaign</h2> <p>This is not Hegseth&#39;s first move on officer education. In early March, the Associated Press reported that he had removed more than a dozen elite colleges from the Senior Service College Fellowship. That program had fewer than 80 students across the 15 universities cut.</p> <p>The Pentagon also barred graduate-level professional military education at Harvard, the AP reported. Lindsey Tepe of the American Council on Education called it the start of a broader effort to reshape military education.</p> <blockquote><p>Pete Hegseth has got to go.</p><p>&mdash; Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, Democrat-New York</p></blockquote> <h2>The impeachment fight</h2> <p>The memo arrives as Massie, a Kentucky Republican, says he will bring his eight-article impeachment resolution against Hegseth back to the House floor. It was first introduced in September and alleges military operations without congressional authorization and violations of the War Powers Resolution.</p> <p>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on ABC&#39;s &quot;This Week&quot; that he is a &quot;hard yes.&quot; He said the caucus would discuss the matter when Congress returns.</p> <p>Hegseth called Massie&#39;s articles &quot;sham articles of impeachment&quot; in a video last week. House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a Republican, recently acknowledged &quot;a lot of questions about Hegseth.&quot;</p> <p>Newsweek said it had asked the Defense Department and the White House for comment. The memo&#39;s critics have not yet been heard from in the wire copy.</p> <p>That matters because the order reaches the schools that shape future generals and admirals. Congress and veterans&#39; groups are likely to ask what the changes mean for officers&#39; training while the Iran war remains a political flashpoint.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/hegseth-orders-military-education-overhaul-as-house-impeachment-push-builds">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/hegseth-orders-military-education-overhaul-as-house-impeachment-push-builds.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Pete Hegseth Orders Military Education Overhaul as Impeachment Looms” (2026-11-09). newsweek.com/pete-hegseth-orders-military-education-overhaul
2. AP via KTAR, “Pentagon's break with Ivy League leaves colleges bracing for further changes to military programs” (2026-03-05). ktar.com/national-news/pentagons-break-with-ivy-league-leave

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