Donovan opposes discarding experienced officers during war
Margaret DonovanAttorney and former U.S. Army captain and JAG Corps lawyer
Margaret Donovan agrees with Leon Panetta that reducing experienced senior military leadership during war is ill-timed.
“Described statement, 4:41-4:57: Donovan agrees with Panetta that wartime is not the time to shed experienced officers who could help the defense secretary.”
Interview
Where this statement fits
Should Hegseth cut 20% of general and admiral positions?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly confirmed a 20% reduction in general and admiral positions during his September 30 address at Quantico. The services are to complete the cuts by January 1, 2027. Hegseth defended the changes as accountability. Mark Kelly criticized the cuts, while Mike Rounds said reducing top-heavy leadership could have merit but requested the justification.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
Panetta and Donovan give separate answers about reducing senior military leadership. Panetta warns about disrupted command during war. Donovan agrees that experienced officers should not be discarded at that time.
Before the quotation
Panetta argues that reducing senior officers would disrupt command and weaken readiness during war.
After the quotation
Donovan says experienced people could assist the defense secretary rather than be removed.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Donovan expressly agrees with the criticism of shedding experienced officers during war.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Pete Hegseth
More from this case
Read the full caseTillis criticizes Hegseth's engagement with Congress
“he's failed to respect Congress”Read statement
Ernst asks Hegseth for a plan and justification
“I do have concerns”Read statement
Wicker says the reductions would not have been his priority
“wouldn't have made that a priority”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Donovan opposes discarding experienced officers during war
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/3948-margaret-donovan-agrees-with-leon-panetta-that-reducing
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Donovan opposes discarding experienced officers during war". First published: 2026-10-01. Last updated: 2026-10-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/3948-margaret-donovan-agrees-with-leon-panetta-that-reducing