Lead

Ten Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday, criticizing the reduction of a program focused on protecting civilians in U.S. military operations. The program, known as civilian harm mitigation and response (CHMR), was established in 2022 to reduce civilian casualties, but the Pentagon has cut its staff by about 90%, according to reports from ProPublica and The Intercept.

Coverage Comparison

Both ProPublica and The Intercept reported on the significant reduction in staffing and resources for civilian protection efforts. ProPublica's report highlighted the lawmakers' letter and cited a recent Defense Department inspector general report that described civilian protection efforts as largely 'inactive.' The Intercept's reporting focused on the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, noting that its staff had been reduced from 40 personnel in January 2025 to just nine by the end of the year, and that the Pentagon had abandoned a database used to track civilian harm.

Key Claims

  • Ten Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticizing the gutting of the civilian harm mitigation and response (CHMR) program, as reported by ProPublica and The Intercept.
  • The CHMR program was established in 2022 to reduce civilian casualties of U.S. military operations, according to both outlets.
  • The Pentagon has reduced the program's staff by about 90%, leaving only a handful of staffers to monitor civilian harm issues, as reported by both ProPublica and The Intercept.
  • A recent Defense Department inspector general report described civilian protection efforts as largely 'inactive,' as reported by ProPublica.
  • The Trump administration has defunded and impeded civilian protection efforts, potentially in violation of federal law, according to the lawmakers' letter, as reported by ProPublica.
  • The Civilian Protection Center of Excellence reduced its staff from 40 to 9 personnel, and its budget has been cut, hindering its efforts, as reported by The Intercept.
  • The Pentagon has abandoned a database used to track civilian harm, making it unable to effectively track such harm, as reported by The Intercept.
  • The U.S. has killed and wounded thousands of civilians across the world, including in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, as reported by The Intercept.
  • The Trump administration's actions have been criticized by lawmakers and experts, who argue they may violate federal law and put civilians at risk, as reported by both ProPublica and The Intercept.

Perspectives

Democratic Lawmakers

The letter from 10 Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, asserts that the Trump administration's actions may be in violation of federal law and constitute a leadership failure that imperils service members and erodes the military's moral standing. They described the civilian protection efforts as 'inactive' based on a Defense Department inspector general report.

Pentagon Response

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to answer questions from ProPublica, stating, 'As with all congressional correspondence, the Department will respond directly to the authors.' The Intercept reported that two current defense officials confirmed the staffing levels remain the same as reported.

Former Officials

Wes Bryant, former chief of civilian harm assessments at the Center, told The Intercept that the Center was being kept on life support to provide cover for the Pentagon. He said that the Center's efforts have had little to no influence on or oversight of operations.