Monitor Senate Armed Services Committee oversight hearings and track whether career military officers are being replaced with political appointees in key operational roles, not just policy positions.
Hegseth's consolidation of Pentagon control through political appointees and militarization of faith represents significant institutional capture (score: 4) with moderate civil rights and separation of powers concerns. The religious framing creates media-friendly controversy, but the underlying governance harm—installing loyalists in defense apparatus—is the dominant signal. Durability and precedent multipliers apply as this reshapes civilian-military relations beyond one administration.