A revised military education list has drawn scrutiny after a newly included university was found to host multiple officials tied to the Hunter Biden laptop letter.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Pentagon’s recent overhaul of its senior service college fellowship program is drawing renewed attention after one of the newly proposed partner institutions was found to have extensive ties to signatories of the 2020 Hunter Biden laptop letter.
According to a report by Just the News, the War Department removed nearly 100 fellowships from more than 20 institutions, including several Ivy League schools, as part of a broader effort to realign military education programs. The changes were outlined in a memo released by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who said the initiative is intended to strengthen warfighting readiness and reinforce institutional values.
Among the potential replacement institutions listed is George Mason University, which houses multiple centers and programs staffed or advised by individuals who signed the October 2020 letter that cast doubt on the authenticity of the Hunter Biden laptop.
Hegseth’s February memorandum stated that professional military education programs must support “the warrior ethos” and avoid affiliations that undermine national security objectives. The memo emphasized that future partner institutions should demonstrate intellectual independence, minimal ties to adversaries, and alignment with defense priorities, as detailed in the Pentagon’s official announcement.
At George Mason, the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security and the National Security Institute both include numerous individuals linked to the laptop letter. The Hayden Center, housed within the university’s Schar School of Policy and Government, is led and staffed by former intelligence officials who publicly supported the 2020 statement.
Michael Hayden, a former CIA and NSA director and a signer of the letter, serves as a distinguished visiting professor and founded the center, according to its official profile. Larry Pfeiffer, another signer, directs the center’s operations, as noted in his biography. Additional senior fellows include former intelligence officials such as David Priess and John Sipher.
The university’s National Security Institute also maintains an advisory board that includes multiple former intelligence and defense officials who signed the letter. These include Leon Panetta, Jeremy Bash, Richard Ledgett and Mike Vickers, according to listings on the institute’s advisory board page.
Former acting CIA Director Michael Morell, identified as a key organizer of the 2020 letter, remains affiliated with the Hayden Center as a distinguished senior fellow, according to the center’s personnel listing. Morell previously told congressional investigators that his outreach to other signatories was influenced by discussions with then–campaign adviser Antony Blinken.
The report also notes the presence of Andrew McCabe, a former FBI deputy director, who has served as a distinguished visiting professor at the Schar School since 2021, according to his faculty profile. McCabe has been publicly critical of President Donald Trump and was previously involved in the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
Additional public activity from the Hayden Center has drawn attention, including social media posts and shared content critical of Trump administration officials and policies. The center has also hosted or featured appearances by figures such as John Brennan, James Clapper and Adam Schiff, all of whom have been involved in prior intelligence and political controversies.
Pentagon officials have described the updated list of fellowship institutions as “dynamic,” indicating that final selections for the 2026–2027 academic year have not yet been finalized. A defense official told Just the News that the program is designed to ensure military leaders receive education focused on critical thinking and national security priorities.
It remains unclear whether George Mason University will remain on the final list of partner institutions as the Pentagon continues its review process.
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