Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed a sweeping overhaul of the military’s inspector general (IG) complaint process, raising alarms among legal experts and whistleblower advocates who warn the move threatens independent oversight across the Department of Defense (DOD) – which the Trump administration has rebranded as the Department of War.
In a Sept. 30 memo, Hegseth ordered the secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to coordinate with the DOD Office of Inspector General to implement a series of reforms aimed at accelerating investigations, limiting repeat complaints, and tracking cases more aggressively.
The changes include a mandatory seven-day “credibility assessment” period for all complaints, with a requirement to dismiss those deemed non-credible – including those filed more than a year after the alleged incident or lacking new evidence.
Complainants found submitting repetitive or “frivolous” reports will be tracked and subject to heightened scrutiny. Hegseth also urged the use of artificial intelligence to triage complaints and manage deadlines.
The memo was released alongside 11 others under Hegseth’s broader “no more walking on eggshells” campaign, which includes efforts to revamp Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Equal Opportunity programs.
However, critics say the changes undermine the very purpose of the inspector general system.
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