Pentagon wants to boost special ops office funding and staff

The Pentagon, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, is proposing a significant upgrade to the civilian office overseeing U.S. special operations forces. The plan calls for giving the office a $45 million budget, 100 new staff members, and elevating the leadership role from an assistant secretary to an under secretary. It also includes a nostalgic rebrand, changing the name to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a nod to the World War II-era organization.

The move aims to provide special operations with civilian oversight and resourcing on par with traditional military branches. However, the success of the plan hinges on Congressional approval, a significant hurdle given the current political tensions between the Pentagon and the Republican-led legislature. Experts caution that while the elevation of the role is logical, the name change could lead to mission creep that dilutes its focus on overseeing Special Operations Command.