Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed several senior military officers from their positions and initiated changes to the military's educational partnerships, shifting away from Ivy League institutions toward Hillsdale College.

The personnel changes have drawn criticism from Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired Air Force general, who acknowledged Hegseth's legal authority to dismiss flag officers but questioned the wisdom of the decision. Bacon stated the moves were "not morally right nor wise," particularly citing the lack of public explanation for the dismissals.

Concurrently, Hegseth has begun steering military education programs away from elite universities. Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts institution in Michigan, has been selected to play an expanded role in training senior U.S. military officers.

The education policy shift represents a departure from the military's traditional partnerships with Ivy League and other prestigious universities for officer development and advanced training programs. Hillsdale College has previously been involved in conservative educational initiatives and curriculum development.

Neither the Pentagon nor Hegseth's office has provided detailed explanations for the specific personnel decisions or the timeline for implementing the educational partnership changes. The moves come as part of broader policy adjustments within the Defense Department under the new administration.