Trump Administration Reportedly Implements Major Military Policy Shift

President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly shifted the process for military action against terrorist targets, eliminating Biden-era rules that required White House approval and giving commanders on the ground greater flexibility to launch strikes.

Key Takeaways

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed a directive easing Biden-era executive oversight requirements for military strikes and raids against terrorist targets.
The policy gives military commanders more operational flexibility and expands the scope of individuals that can be targeted.
Potential targets under the rules include al Shabaab in Somalia and Houthi forces in Yemen.
The policy shift signals a return to Trump’s more aggressive counterterrorism approach from his first term.
U.S. forces have already reportedly conducted several strikes in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia under the new guidelines.

Trump Administration Dismantles Biden’s Military Strike Restrictions

President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly dismantled Biden-era restrictions on military strikes and raids against terrorist targets. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently signed a directive that significantly reduces executive oversight on some military operations, removing policies implemented by former President Joe Biden that had required White House approval for such actions. The change represents a shift in how America’s military can respond to terrorist threats around the world, returning to the more aggressive posture that characterized Trump’s first term in office.

The directive specifically eases policy constraints on military commanders, giving them greater authority to make decisions in the field without waiting for approval from Washington. This removes what many military leaders considered burdensome bureaucratic hurdles that could potentially delay critical operations. Under the previous administration, airstrikes required a multi-layered approval process involving military lawyers and seven individuals, including the president himself – a system that supporters of the new policy argued hampered effective and timely responses to emerging threats.

Trump dismantles Biden-era rules on military strikes, raids on terrorist targets: report https://t.co/gSvITSUVnP pic.twitter.com/beLYVslxbB

— New York Post (@nypost) February 28, 2025

Expanded Target List and Military Flexibility

The revised guidelines significantly broaden the scope of individuals the military can target and give commanders more flexibility in executing operations. Potential targets under the new orders include the Somalia-based terror group al Shabaab and the Houthis in Yemen, which have been increasingly active in recent months. Since implementing these changes, the U.S. military has already conducted several strikes against terror targets in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia, demonstrating the immediate impact of the policy shift on military operations around the world.

A senior Pentagon official noted that Biden’s policies were essentially “carbon copies” of those from former President Barack Obama’s second term. The official, per CBS News, explained that the approach carries both rewards and possible drawbacks, potentially degrading terrorist capabilities faster but increasing the risk of flawed decision-making and civilian casualties. This balance between operational efficiency and collateral damage has long been at the center of debates about America’s counterterrorism strategy.

Response to Growing Terrorist Threats

The policy change comes amid growing concerns about increased terrorist activity globally. Security experts have pointed to a resurgence of ISIS and affiliated groups in multiple regions. The threat from ISIS-Khurasan Province (ISIS-K) has been highlighted as particularly concerning due to its demonstrated capability for external operations that could potentially target Western nations, including the United States. This growing threat landscape has been cited as justification for the more aggressive stance on military action.

The directive to U.S. Africa Command comes during a period of significant changes at the Pentagon, including the recent dismissal of top judge advocate generals by the Trump administration. When questioned about these removals, Secretary Hegseth defended the actions, stating: “Ultimately, I want the best possible lawyers in each service to provide the best possible recommendations, no matter what, to lawful orders and are given, and we didn’t think those particular positions were well suited, and so we’re looking for the best.” These personnel changes further underscore the administration’s push to reshape military policy.