Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announced on February 25, 2026, that he will retire from his Harvard University professorship at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 academic year, following sustained scrutiny of his connections to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers, who previously served as Harvard's president, stated his decision was driven by a desire to 'repair relationships' after the U.S. House Oversight Committee released documents in late 2025 revealing extensive personal correspondence between him and Epstein. The university initiated a formal review of individuals named in Epstein-related files last November, prompting Summers to take leave from his directorship at Harvard's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.
Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton confirmed Summers will remain on leave until his official retirement, noting the institution 'respects his decision to step back from academic leadership roles.' This development follows Summers' November 2025 resignation from OpenAI's board, where he contributed to artificial intelligence policy discussions.
The 71-year-old economist acknowledged in his resignation statement being 'deeply ashamed' of his professional interactions with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The case continues to reverberate through academic and financial circles, with Harvard maintaining its commitment to 'rigorous ethical standards.'
