Hegseth Pushes to Slash Civilian-Protection Program as Casualties Mount

ProPublica reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked top commanders to vote on drastic cuts to the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) program; commanders largely rejected eliminating it, with some urging full staffing. Hegseth ultimately gutted CHMR, cutting funding, but follow-up memos and rising civilian casualties in Yemen and Iran have spurred a partial revival and reboot at reduced staffing, signaling a potential return of the program amid congressional pressure and debates over legal and moral obligations to minimize civilian harm.