Congress Accuses Pentagon of Illegally Dismantling Civilian Harm Reduction Program

U.S. 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 Army Secretary Dan Driscoll acknowledged legal obligations and attributed disruptions to organizational restructuring, critics argue that undermining these efforts jeopardizes mission success by alienating local populations in conflict zones. The CHMR-AP was originally established in 2022 to improve tracking and investigation of civilian casualties resulting from U.S. strikes overseas.