The Defense Department is moving to dismantle efforts focused on reducing civilian harm in U.S. military operations, according to three defense officials, part of a Trump administration shift to scale back protections of innocents so commanders can focus more on “lethality” when conducting military strikes. Pentagon leaders have decided to shutter civilian protection efforts across the agency, according to two of the officials. On the chopping block is a broad cross-command effort known as the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response, which includes dozens of staffers worldwide who work alongside commanders to refine targeting operations, along with a center overseen by…
