U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a memo to senior military officials on October 16, directing the reestablishment of the Office of Net Assessment (ONA)—the Pentagon’s internal think tank responsible for “looking twenty to thirty years into the military’s future.” According to The Washington Post, the ONA has played a key role in long-term strategic planning, including preparations for a potential future conflict with China.

The move comes about seven months after Hegseth dissolved the ONA and several other offices, citing the need for greater accountability and efficiency within the Department of Defense. Under the new directive, the ONA will no longer report directly to the Secretary of Defense. Instead, it will fall under the authority of Robert G. Salesses, the Pentagon’s Director of Administration and Management, while Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg will “functionally manage” the office’s top position, the Director of Net Assessment (DNA).

The memo also outlines a similar realignment for another Pentagon office focused on privacy, civil liberties, and government transparency.