Top Commanders Told Hegseth Not to Cut Civilian Protection Program, Poll Showed. He Did It Anyway.

Top military commanders advised Hegseth to maintain the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response mission, but he proceeded to cut the civilian protection program regardless. Since the gutting of this specific program, the U.S. military has killed hundreds of noncombatants. This outcome has generated significant blowback, which may now lead to a partial restoration of the mission to mitigate civilian harm and improve response efforts within the military's operational framework for protecting noncombatants during conflicts.