When images emerged from Minab showing rows of small coffins and grieving parents, many Americans were left asking how this could happen again.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense formally adopted the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) strategy — a long-overdue framework designed to reduce civilian deaths during military operations. It required deeper pre-strike analysis, real-time civilian mapping, clearer no-strike lists for schools and hospitals, and transparent investigations when mistakes occurred. Around 200 personnel were assigned to help ensure that when force was used, it was used responsibly.

According to reporting, roughly 90% of that program has now been dismantled under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Civilian Protection Center of Excellence reportedly exists mostly on paper. Former advisers warn that oversight has been sidelined as “lethality” has been elevated over accountability.

At the same time, strikes in Iran, Yemen, and Somalia have led to rising civilian casualty reports. In Minab, investigators have linked a Tomahawk missile strike near an elementary school to the United States. If confirmed, it could represent one of the deadliest civilian casualty disasters in decades. Iranian officials have said at least 175 people were killed, most of them children.

We call on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration to immediately restore the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response program to full capacity, reinstate its staffing and funding, and support an independent, transparent investigation into recent strikes that may have harmed civilians. We also urge Congress to exercise its oversight authority to ensure meaningful accountability and public reporting.

American strength and American values are not opposites. We can defend our country while defending innocent life. It’s time to bring back the guardrails that help prevent tragedy — and ensure that when mistakes happen, they are acknowledged and addressed.