Pentagon’s Civilian Harm Mitigation Program Diminished Under Secretary Hegseth, Raising Legal and Humanitarian Concerns

The 2022 Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) obliges the DoD to track and reduce civilian casualties. A 43-page inspector general report released 13 May 2026 found none of the 133 required actions across 11 objectives were completed. Funding for CP CoE’s data platform ended, steering-committee meetings stopped, and about 90 % of CHMR billets were eliminated, leaving the Center a “shell on paper” with no budget or authority.

The Intercept

• 133 actions unfinished; 90 % of CHMR positions vacant; CP CoE staff down to seven in a “closet office” in Virginia.

The Guardian

• NGOs report >2,000 civilian deaths in the Trump administration’s second term, including 224 in Yemen and 2,362 in the U.S.–Israeli campaign against Iran.

The Intercept

• The February 2025 strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran, killed at least 175 civilians, mostly children.

The Intercept

These losses reduce battle-space awareness, raise civilian-casualty risk, and erode alliance confidence, fueling adversary propaganda and extending conflicts.

The Intercept

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Pentagon remains committed to civilian-harm reduction and framed changes as restructuring. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) called cuts “a crisis of the Trump Administration’s own making” and urged reversal. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) warned DoD is “in violation of the law right now on civilian harm.” Admiral Brad Cooper, overseeing Iran operations, said Minab school strike was only civilian-casualty incident he knew of. Acting Under Secretary Elbridge Colby asserted continued collaboration with CP CoE and a training-goal deadline for next year.

The Guardian

Airwars specialist Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen called the civilian-harm scope “unprecedented” across multiple theaters. Whistleblower Wes Bryant said the IG report was “completely whitewashed” and warned the Center now serves only as legal cover. Amnesty International researcher Raha Bahreini cited thousands of civilian deaths and injuries in Iran, noting the missing data platform hampers accountability. Several House Armed Services Committee members voiced distrust in Pentagon assurances amid the ongoing dismantling of CHMR structures.

The Intercept

Admiral Cooper said only one civilian-casualty incident is known, while NGOs document hundreds in Iran, Yemen and elsewhere. The IG report notes the civilian-harm database was abandoned, preventing verification.

The Intercept

• “It is completely whitewashed of the truth,” — Wes Bryant, former chief of civilian harm assessments

The Intercept

• “This is unprecedented in terms of the sheer number of theaters where harm to civilians has been reported within such a short space of time,” — Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen, Airwars

The Intercept

• “U.S.–Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 2,362 civilians, including 383 children, and injured over 32,314 civilians, according to official figures,” — Raha Bahreini, Amnesty International researcher

The Intercept

• “There’s no way we can corroborate that,” — Brad Cooper, senior officer overseeing Iran operations

The Intercept

The IG gave the Pentagon until 12 June 2026 to submit a corrective plan. Congressional leaders have signaled hearings and may pursue legislation to restore CHMR funding and oversight.

Army Times