Congress Accuses Pentagon of Illegally Dismantling Civilian Harm Reduction Program

US lawmakers have sharply criticized the Pentagon for allegedly dismantling a congressionally mandated program designed to reduce civilian harm during military operations. This confrontation follows a May 2026 Inspector General report revealing that the Defense Department had begun shutting down the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) despite legal requirements to maintain it. During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, representatives, including Ranking Democrat Adam Smith and Army veteran Jason Crow, accused the Army and DoD of defunding the initiative and violating federal law. The report highlighted that key components, such as the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, were being hollowed out through staff reassignments and halted funding. While Rep. Crow emphasized that preventing civilian casualties is crucial for maintaining local support in conflict zones, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll defended the department's actions. Driscoll argued that the disruptions were part of necessary organizational restructuring rather than an intentional effort to scrap the program, affirming the Pentagon's continued commitment to its legal obligations regarding civilian protection.