Pentagon Report Accuses Secretary Hegseth of Endangering Civilians Through Budget Cuts

The Department of War’s inspector general has released a scathing report detailing how severe budget cuts under Secretary Pete Hegseth have left the U.S. unable to adequately protect civilians in conflict zones. The findings, revealed Thursday, highlight significant shortcomings in implementing the Pentagon’s 2022 Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP), which was mandated to be fully operational by the end of 2025. Despite this deadline, none of the plan’s objectives were met, leaving civilians and military personnel at heightened risk.

The report underscores that the Department of War has failed to allocate funding for a critical database designed to track civilian harm and verify incidents like strikes on hospitals and schools. This lack of resources has severely hindered efforts to assess and mitigate damage caused by U.S. operations. Additionally, the inspector general noted that staffing levels for civilian harm mitigation have been drastically reduced, with many positions either terminated or reassigned, effectively gutting the program.

Critics, including former Pentagon officials, argue that these cuts amount to a deliberate effort to undermine protections for civilians. Wes Bryant, a whistleblower and former chief of civilian harm assessments, described the current state of the Pentagon’s Civilian Protection Center of Excellence as “a shell on paper” with no budget or authority. Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., echoed these concerns, calling the situation a “crisis” that endangers national security and provides propaganda opportunities for adversaries.

The inspector general’s report also highlights how these cuts compromise military readiness and increase risks to U.S. personnel and mission success. As the U.S. continues its operations in conflict zones like Iran, the absence of robust civilian harm mitigation efforts raises serious ethical and legal concerns. Advocates argue that reversing these cuts is not only a matter of saving lives but also of maintaining international credibility and strategic effectiveness.