Pete Hegseth to overhaul US military lawyers in effort to relax rules of war

Summary

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to overhaul the military's Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps to relax rules of engagement and reduce restrictions under the laws of armed conflict.

The move follows his firing of top JAG officers and aims to provide commanders with more expansive legal advice for aggressive tactics.

Hegseth's personal lawyer, Tim Parlatore, will lead the effort, advocating for a less restrictive interpretation of battlefield rules.

Critics warn this could weaken legal safeguards, but supporters argue it restores a "warrior ethos."