Amid Mounting War Casualties, Pete Hegseth “Defunded and Impeded” Efforts to Protect Civilians, Lawmakers Say

Local lawmakers are speaking out against the actions of a high-ranking defense official. A group of Democratic lawmakers expressed concerns about the impact of recent decisions on military personnel and civilians. They cited a report from the Defense Department inspector general and news reports as evidence of the need for change. The lawmakers' concerns center on a program that was intended to safeguard civilians. They argue that the current state of this program puts service members at risk and undermines the military's reputation. Further details about the situation are available from ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization that investigates issues related to power and accountability.