Pete Hegseth moves to cut Pentagon testing division in half

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will cut its operational test and evaluation organization in half and appoint an interim director to better align the armed forces with an America First strategy. 

In a Wednesday memo, Mr. Hegseth explains that an internal review of the Pentagon’s Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation found that cuts to the division would improve the military’s “lethality, readiness and efficiency.”

“A comprehensive internal review has identified redundant, nonessential, nonstatutory functions within ODOT&E that do not support operational agility or resource efficiency, affecting our ability to rapidly and effectively deploy the best systems to the Warfighter,” the secretary wrote. 

The evaluation office oversees the validation and testing of weapons in the Defense Department.

The memo orders ODOT&E to reduce its staffing to 30 civilians, 15 military personnel and one senior leader. That constitutes more than a 50% reduction in staff. The division currently has 94 employees: 82 civilians and 12 in uniform. 

The secretary also ordered a termination of support for contracting employees within seven days. However, if leaders feel that certain contractors are necessary, they can request a review. 

Mr. Hegseth appointed Carroll P. Quade, the Navy’s deputy for test and evaluation, to head up the newly cut ODOT&E. The division was most recently headed by Raymond O’Toole.