Top commanders told Hegseth not to cut civilian protection program, poll showed. He did it anyway.

This story was originally published by ProPublica . Shortly after taking office last year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth polled the nation’s top commanders about cutting a program designed to protect civilians during U.S. military operations. Hegseth had bet senior officers would endorse his view that focusing on civilian security was “woke” and out of step with “maximum lethality,” current and…