Pentagon Shuts Down Office of Net Assessment Over Mismanagement Concerns

The Department of Defense will restructure the office following allegations of waste, inefficiency, and ties to the Trump-Russia investigation.

The Office of Net Assessment (ONA), a Pentagon think tank, has been disbanded with plans to rebuild it in alignment with strategic priorities.
The move follows years of criticism from Senator Chuck Grassley, who accused the office of financial mismanagement and failing to fulfill its mission.
ONA paid over $1 million to Stefan Halper, an FBI source involved in the Trump-Russia investigation, raising questions about the office's oversight of contracts.
The office was criticized for funding questionable studies, including research on Vladimir Putin's body language and Scotch-Irish culture in America.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed a plan to restructure the office within 30 days, while reallocating staff to critical roles.