Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of the Homeland Defense Board (HDB), a new advisory committee focused on domestic security and military strategy. The board’s establishment was published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2026, and is intended to provide the secretary with integrated advice on the military’s mission to defend the homeland. Hegseth will serve as the chair of the 20-member panel, which the department describes as the first advisory body specifically dedicated to these issues.
The new board follows a 2025 review of the Pentagon’s approximately 40 existing advisory committees. During that review, Hegseth dismissed all sitting board members to ensure committees were aligned with administration priorities. The process resulted in the termination of 14 groups, including the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services and the Defense Advisory Committee for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct. Documents justifying the new HDB state that the threats from peer and near-peer adversaries, non-state actors, and asymmetric activities have become more complex over the last decade.
The HDB will include the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas security affairs as vice chair, along with deputy assistant secretaries and representatives from each military department. The Pentagon argued that existing boards at the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department are unsuitable for this role because they lack the mandate to advise on military troop deployments or specific defense strategies in the Western Hemisphere. Separately, Hegseth announced new appointments to the long-standing Defense Policy Board, naming former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as chair and former Senator Norm Coleman as vice chair.
For the American public, the concrete day-to-day change involves how the military interacts with domestic security and law enforcement. The board is tasked with bridging the gap between the military and agencies like the Department of Homeland Security to secure critical infrastructure and transport networks. Residents in U.S. cities and border regions may see the effects of these recommendations through changes in the posture or frequency of military support for civilian law enforcement. Additionally, the board will advise on countering foreign influence and transnational criminal networks, which could influence how resources are allocated to combat illegal drug trade and cyber threats.
The creation of the HDB sets a precedent for increased Pentagon involvement in domestic policy and oversight, areas traditionally managed by civilian agencies. This comes as the military’s role has expanded to include drug interdiction missions and large-scale urban support. While federal law restricts the use of the military to influence elections, the board's establishment coincides with reports of fears regarding potential troop deployments near polling sites. The board is expected to begin its assessments to address what the Pentagon identifies as "strategic blind spots" in hemispheric defense. Future meetings and specific policy recommendations from the 20-member panel have not yet been scheduled.