Letter from Military Veteran and Family Organizations to Secretary Hegseth on Civilian Harm Mitigation Programs
Dear Secretary Hegseth,
As organizations representing thousands of military veterans and their families across the United States, we write to express our concern regarding reported proposed cuts to the Department of Defense’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) efforts, including planned cuts to offices and programs mandated by Congress on a bipartisan basis. Programs to prevent civilian harm uphold the high standards that make our military the most respected fighting force in the world—ensuring accountability, reducing unintended harm, and further strengthening America’s leadership on the global stage.
Over the years, the U.S. military has made significant strides to improve its ability to prevent and mitigate civilian harm without compromising warfighter effectiveness. Starting under the first Trump administration, many of these efforts have been led and carried out by active-duty service members and combat veterans who understand firsthand the complexity and burden of modern warfare. Over the course of U.S. wars, they have seen how efforts to prevent and respond to civilian harm support mission readiness, expand battlespace awareness, preserve strategic advantage, help maintain public trust, and honor the values they swore to defend.
Our nation’s service members deserve the tools to prevent costly mistakes. Too many veterans carry the invisible wounds of war, including moral injury and psychological trauma resulting from unintentional harm to civilians during operations. These experiences can have lasting impacts on mental health, unit cohesion, and long-term readiness. By investing in civilian harm mitigation and response programs, the Department provides warfighters with the tools, training, and situational awareness necessary to make informed decisions that minimize civilian harm, maximize effectiveness, and reinforce the core values that define our armed forces.
We urge you to maintain and strengthen the U.S. military’s civilian harm mitigation initiatives, including ensuring the critical staffing and resourcing at the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence and across the military. Doing so is vital to protecting service members in uniform, serving our national security interests, and ensuring U.S. operations reflect the highest standards of conduct.
Respectfully,
About Face: Veterans Against the War
The Chamberlain Network
CommonDefense.us
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Minority Veterans of America
Secure Families Initiative
Service Women’s Action Network
Veterans for American Ideals
Veterans For Peace
