The Pentagon's sweeping staff cuts under Secretary Pete Hegseth have dramatically reduced the capacity of oversight teams that investigate civilian harm, according to Politico. Units that would probe a deadly strike on a girls' school in Iran — which reportedly killed about 168 people — have been pared back by roughly 90%, and CENTCOM's civilian‑casualty team is down to one person. Hegseth and the White House say investigations will continue, while watchdog reporting also flagged $93 billion in September 2025 Pentagon obligations, including large late‑year food purchases.
Pentagon Cuts Under Pete Hegseth Cripple Civilian‑Harm Investigations — Probe Into Deadly Iran School Strike At Risk
Both Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Trump have claimed it isn't a regime change war. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's deep reductions in Pentagon oversight staffing have sharply diminished the department's capacity to investigate civilian harm — including a probe into a recent strike on a girls' school in Iran that reportedly killed about 168 people, many of them children.
A Politico investigation found that specialized accountability units have seen staffing declines of as much as 90 percent. Among those affected is the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, which had roughly 200 employees before cuts reduced the team by about 90 percent. A civilian‑casualty assessment team at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for the Middle East region, has reportedly fallen from 10 personnel to a single employee.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cut departments in the name of
President Donald Trump, who has publicly blamed Iran for the bombing, said on Monday he was awaiting more information. "I just don't know enough about it," he told reporters. "I think it's something that I was told is under investigation... whatever the report shows I'm willing to live with that."
Wes Bryant, who until last year served as the Pentagon's chief of staff for civilian‑harm assessment, called the personnel reductions "so unbelievably unacceptable," and said the shortage of staff limits even the department's ability to confirm whether a bomb was dropped near the school.
Hegseth has defended the Pentagon's investigative capabilities despite the cuts, saying the department takes civilian protection seriously and will investigate incidents as needed. "No nation in history has ever attempted in every possible way to avoid civilian casualties," he said, adding that investigations take time and early investment.
The aftermath of the strike on a girls' school in Iran. / Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News/WANA / via REUTERS
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration will "accept the conclusion of this investigation" and cautioned against jumping to conclusions while the Pentagon looks into the matter.
Politico's reporting cites current and former officials. The Daily Beast and other outlets say they have reached out to the Pentagon for comment.
Separate Spending Report Raises Questions
Separately, the watchdog group Open The Books reported that the Defense Department recorded more than $93 billion in grants and contracts obligations in September 2025 — the largest monthly total since 2008. That reporting highlighted high‑cost food purchases made late in the fiscal year, including millions allegedly spent on Alaskan king crab, lobster tails, salmon and premium beef, which critics say reflect efforts to obligate remaining funds before the fiscal year closed.
Implications: Observers say severely reduced oversight teams could delay or limit independent review of incidents that risk civilian lives, undermining transparency and accountability during active operations. Lawmakers and watchdogs may press for answers about both staffing decisions and year‑end spending practices.
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