Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Plans Overhaul of Military Legal System

Hegseth seeks to relax rules of engagement and reshape the military justice system, raising concerns over potential implications for battlefield conduct.

Pete Hegseth is initiating a major reform of the judge advocate general’s corps (JAG), aiming to loosen restrictions on military rules of engagement.
The overhaul includes retraining military lawyers to provide more permissive legal advice to commanders and to take a lenient approach to prosecuting battlefield crimes.
Hegseth has appointed his personal lawyer, Tim Parlatore, to lead the effort, who will simultaneously continue his private legal practice.
The reforms follow the recent firing of top military lawyers, with new JAG nominations underway to facilitate the changes.
Critics express concern over the potential erosion of adherence to international laws of armed conflict and the broader implications for accountability in military operations.