Watchdog: Pentagon quietly dismantled legally required civilian-harm safeguards
A May 2025 inspector general report found the Pentagon has effectively dismantled the legally required civilian-harm policy program (CHMR) and the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence (CP CoE) due to funding cuts and staff losses, leaving only a skeletal operation and risking non-compliance with federal law. The CHMR steering committee last met in December, two senior officials had proposed cutting the program earlier in the year, and DoD was given until June 12 to deliver a remediation plan. Civilian-harm monitors warn that degraded safeguards could lead to greater civilian casualties in ongoing operations.