Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has revived the name of the Second World War Office of Strategic Services — the famed OSS — for the Pentagon’s top civilian special operations post. The Hegseth OSS move, set out in a November 2 memo made public on November 12, gives the post equal standing with the service secretaries, 100 extra staff and at least $45 million a year.

Under the order, the assistant secretary of war for special operations and low-intensity conflict becomes the assistant secretary of war for the Office of Strategic Services, and the Secretariat for Special Operations becomes the Office of Strategic Services. It reaches back to the wartime spy agency that gave birth to modern American special operations — and signals that Hegseth wants the Pentagon’s most secretive warriors to carry more weight inside the building.

Key Points

• Hegseth renamed the Pentagon’s top special operations civilian post after the Second World War Office of Strategic Services, in a November 2 memo made public on November 12.
• The post now ranks alongside the Army, Navy and Air Force secretaries, with seats on the top requirements, budget and management councils.
• It can issue binding policy on special operations equipment and acquisition.
• The office gains 100 staff — 75 civilians within 60 days, plus 25 military posts — and at least $45 million a year.
• Derrick Anderson, a former Green Beret confirmed by the Senate in December 2025, holds the post; making it permanent needs Congress.

What Happened

Hegseth signed the memo on November 2, 2026; it became public ten days later. It renames the assistant secretary of war for special operations and low-intensity conflict — the Pentagon’s senior civilian for special operations forces — and the staff behind the post.

Until now the special operations chief sat below the service secretaries, often unheard when they split money and missions. Now the post sits on an equal footing, with a seat at every senior forum they attend: the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, which decides what kit the military buys; the Program Budget Review; and the Deputy’s Management Action Group.

The office can also issue binding policy on special operations equipment and acquisition, and it gets 75 civilian posts within 60 days, 25 military posts, and at least $45 million a year, with salaries separate. “Resourcing for SOF remains behind current operational and force posture. It is time for a bold, foundational change,” Hegseth wrote.

Background: From the OSS to Special Operations

The name carries real history. The Office of Strategic Services was created in June 1942, six months after Pearl Harbor, as America’s first centralised intelligence and unconventional-warfare agency. Led by Major General William “Wild Bill” Donovan, its officers ran espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines. Disbanded in October 1945, it seeded the CIA and the Army Special Forces.

The post dates to the failed 1980 hostage-rescue mission in Iran, when the Desert One raid exposed poor coordination between the services’ elite units. The Nunn-Cohen Amendment of 1987 then created US Special Operations Command. But the civilian post never carried the same clout — its holders could advise but not direct — and Hegseth now aims to fix that.

Hegseth OSS Revival: What the New Office Means

The change will be felt first in budget and acquisition battles. Special operations forces need specialised kit — modified aircraft, advanced communications, night-vision gear — that the conventional services have little reason to prioritise. With a council seat and binding powers, the new OSS can push its own needs through instead of waiting in line.

The staffing surge matters too: 75 civilians in 60 days turns a small office into a real headquarters staff, while 25 uniformed planners bridge the gap to operators in the field. The $45 million is modest by Pentagon standards, but it is independent money. Symbolically, the name fits Hegseth’s warrior-ethos drive, including a military pay reform that puts combat troops first.

Reactions and Quotes

Hegseth’s words set the tone: “Resourcing for SOF remains behind current operational and force posture. It is time for a bold, foundational change.” His case: the forces given America’s hardest missions have had the least bureaucratic muscle.

Not everyone agrees a memo is enough. Defence analyst Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute argued Hegseth lacks the authority to make the change or allocate the money without Congress — the Pentagon’s organisation and budget are set by law.

The memo concedes the point: the OSS names are secondary titles for now, and making the post an under secretary and the name permanent needs Congress. Hegseth has ordered staff to draft proposals, and Derrick Anderson, the former Green Beret who holds the post, will be central to making the case.

Why It Matters

Special operations forces have carried a disproportionate share of America’s wars for two decades, yet the community has long said its resourcing lagged. A post that can defend its own budget should mean faster kit and more say in how units are used. It is also a test of Hegseth’s wider Pentagon remake — awarding a medal to the Tomb Guard who scolded him at Arlington showed the same warrior-focused style — and of how far Congress will let one secretary redraw the map. Abroad, the name signals covert action behind enemy lines, restored amid tension with Iran, war in Ukraine and rivalry with China.

What Happens Next

The 60-day hiring clock is the first test: filling 75 civilian posts will decide whether the office can use its powers or just holds a grander title. Next come the legislative proposals for under-secretary rank and a permanent name, facing scrutiny from lawmakers and service secretaries who may not welcome a new equal. The first budget cycle will be decisive, and Derrick Anderson, the first holder of the revived title, will define the post in practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Office of Strategic Services?

America’s first centralised intelligence and unconventional-warfare agency, created in June 1942 under Major General William “Wild Bill” Donovan. It ran espionage, sabotage and guerrilla operations behind enemy lines in the Second World War and was disbanded in October 1945. Its legacy lives on in the CIA and the Army Special Forces.

What exactly did Hegseth rename?

The assistant secretary of war for special operations and low-intensity conflict becomes the assistant secretary of war for the Office of Strategic Services, and its staff becomes the Office of Strategic Services. The change was ordered in a November 2, 2026 memo made public on November 12.

Who is Derrick Anderson?

A former Green Beret who holds the Pentagon’s top special operations civilian post, confirmed by the Senate in December 2025.

Does the change need Congress?

Partly. The names are secondary titles Hegseth could order by memo, but making the post an under secretary and the OSS name permanent both require Congress. Hegseth has directed staff to draft proposals, and analyst Kori Schake argues he lacks the authority without lawmakers.

How much money and staff does the office get?

It gains 100 staff — 75 civilians within 60 days, plus 25 military posts — and at least $45 million a year in operations and maintenance funding, with salaries on top.