Army to drop Pentagon's civilian harm mitigation office under Trump order
Less than two years after it was established, the office — which emerged from an effort to address civilian harm in US campaigns targeting ISIS in Iraq — faces potential closure under Trump administration cuts.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ordered the US Army to begin procedural steps toward closing a key Pentagon office set up during the Biden administration to study and mitigate civilian casualties inflicted by US military operations abroad.
A critical review of the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence was among a list of decisions handed to Pentagon officials by President Donald Trump’s transition team prior to his inauguration, three people familiar with the orders said. The office is currently housed in the Department of the Army.
A memo sent earlier this week instructs the top leadership to forward a request for the defense secretary to relieve the Army of responsibility for the office before a request is sent to Congress to terminate its funding.
The memo, described to Al-Monitor by multiple sources, was first reported by the Washington Post.
