In a significant shakeup, Pete Hegseth has ordered major cuts to the Pentagon’s Independent Test Office, halving its staff and appointing a new director, Carroll Quade. This reorganization, aimed at streamlining operations, has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats who oppose the downsizing of oversight functions, particularly concerning the testing of the controversial Golden Dome missile defense system. The restructuring has been framed as a necessary move to enhance efficiency, yet it raises concerns about the thoroughness of weapons testing amid previous assurances of comprehensive oversight.