Overview

• 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.