Tag

#Pentagon

The headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. Incidents involve Pentagon directives, military policy decisions, defense spending, and the role of military leadership in authorizing or conducting operations.

3 incidents

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Pentagon Press Credential Policy Struck Down as Unconstitutional; Court Finds the Department Did Not Comply (2025–2026)

A federal court permanently struck down the Pentagon's 2025 press-access policy as vague and viewpoint-discriminatory, then found the department had not complied and had instead cut reporters' access further. An appeals court let the escort rule stand pending appeal because the first judgment had not addressed it; the district court then preliminarily enjoined it as likely retaliation.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Dismantlement of Pentagon Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Program

The Pentagon's civilian casualty prevention infrastructure was gutted in early 2025, removing institutional safeguards for complying with IHL precautions before the administration's subsequent military operations, in which serious civilian harm was documented.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Diverting $3.8 Billion in Military Funds to Border Wall After Congress Refused

In February 2020, the Trump administration announced the diversion of an additional $3.8 billion in Pentagon funds to border wall construction — funds Congress had appropriated for other defense purposes. It followed the September 2019 deferral of 127 military construction projects to free $3.6 billion, among them a $62.6 million middle school at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In June 2020 the Ninth Circuit held that the transfers violated the Appropriations Clause; the Supreme Court declined, 5–4, to lift its stay, and construction continued.