Rahm Emanuel urges second Goldwater-Nichols revolution for US military
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 10
Rahm Emanuel urges second Goldwater-Nichols revolution for US military
7 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 10
In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, the former ambassador to Japan cited Ukraine and Iran, including Tehran's disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, as evidence the Pentagon is unprepared.
He called for integrated planning for conventional and unconventional war, faster procurement, more support for emerging defence firms, and cheaper responses to threats such as Iran's low-cost drones.
Emanuel also criticised President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over personnel decisions and strategy, arguing the US needs reforms on the scale of the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act.
Is the U.S. military's pivot to drone warfare creating a fatal vulnerability in a conventional, high-intensity war?
Can the Pentagon's 'startup' initiatives overcome its own bureaucracy to rapidly field new battlefield technology?
How can America win a new arms race defined by millions of cheap drones, not billion-dollar jets?
Reforming U.S. National Security: Lessons from Goldwater-Nichols and the Path Forward in 2026
Overview
The U.S. national security system is at a turning point, driven by evolving global threats, strategic misalignments, and internal inefficiencies. As of 2026, experts agree that a fundamental reevaluation is urgently needed. The current strategies are inadequate for the shifting geopolitical landscape, especially with China and Russia increasing cooperation and Russia strengthening ties with Iran and North Korea. These developments mean the U.S. faces more complex challenges than before. The report highlights that without comprehensive reform, the nation risks falling behind in addressing both external threats and internal weaknesses, making national security less effective.