Executive Branch

Lawfare Daily: The Remaking of the Department of Defense

Natalie K. Orpett, Rachel E. VanLandingham, Jen Patja
Thursday, October 1, 2026, 7:00 AM

How is the Trump administration remaking the Pentagon?

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On today's podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett sits down with Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School and a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, to talk about the many ways in which the Trump administration has been remaking DoD. Some changes are announced loudly—the ban on transgender service members and the so-called “High-T” initiative—while others are taking place through quiet bureaucratic moves, like changes to personnel management. But all are combining to reshape the U.S. armed forces according to a new vision. They talk about how these changes are being implemented, what’s rhetoric and what’s reality, and what impact it’s all having on the Department and the troops themselves.


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Natalie K. Orpett

Natalie K. Orpett

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Natalie Orpett is the executive editor of Lawfare and deputy general counsel of the Lawfare Institute. She was previously an attorney at the law firm Jenner & Block, where she focused on investigations and government controversies, and also maintained an active pro bono practice. She served as civilian counsel to a defendant in the Guantanamo Military Commissions for more than eight years.
Rachel E. VanLandingham

Rachel E. VanLandingham

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Rachel E. VanLandingham is a professor of law at Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, where she teaches criminal law, national security law, and criminal procedure. She is also the President, National Institute of Military Justice (NIMJ). Professor VanLandingham is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, and served as a judge advocate while on active duty. VanLandingham is a frequent commentator in the media on military law issues, and her writing focuses on criminal law, international humanitarian law, and national security issues. She is a co-author of "The Law of Armed Conflict: An Operational Perspective."
Jen Patja

Jen Patja

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Jen Patja is the editor of the Lawfare Podcast and Rational Security, and serves as Lawfare’s Director of Audience Engagement. Previously, she was Co-Executive Director of Virginia Civics and Deputy Director of the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, where she worked to deepen public understanding of constitutional democracy and inspire meaningful civic participation.
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