DY, this isn’t R Zonnenfeld speaking, this is the RY of an institution that allows and encourages it.
But isn’t suggesting it for E.Y.
There’s a long history of the gedolim in E.Y. fighting against secular studies, because the imposition of it was designed to weaken Torah. In such a situation (political reality) it becomes the halachah to fight it.
As an example of politics affecting halachah, see R’ Herscel Schachter’s reasoning to asser ordaining rabbettes. As I posted elsewhere, there is precedent, including but not limited the Chasam Sofer.
Without literally calling this a sha’as hashmad (I’ll leave that for poskim to decide), we can certainly use the concept to demonstrate that political context most definitely informs halachah (or at least its application).
There was never a p’sak that it’s categorically forbidden for bochurim to learn secular studies; the issur is it’s imposition under certain circumstances. Applying halachah to practical circumstances is part of the eternal Torah.