🕒 Created

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces pressure to revive civilian harm mitigation program after initial cuts

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially sought to eliminate the civilian harm mitigation and response program, viewing the focus on civilian security as a 'woke' distraction from maximum lethality. However, after receiving significant pushback from top military commanders and facing criticism from Congress over high civilian casualties in Iran and Yemen, the administration announced a plan to partially revive the program. While Hegseth initially gutted the program's funding and staff, senior officers argued that the program enhanced precision and accuracy in lethal operations. The administration announced a move to reboot the program with 70 full-time staff members, a compromise that preserves the framework of the civilian security campaign. This reversal marks a rare moment of dissent within the department under the administration of President Trump. The refashioned program will continue to provide data and training to help minimize collateral damage during U.S. military operations, balancing the administration's pursuit of ruthlessness with the strategic value of a structured civilian protection framework.

Sources