Pentagon quietly drops mentions of border mission’s name

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon has quietly stopped calling the deployment of thousands of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border “Operation Faithful Patriot.” U.S. officials say Defence Secretary Jim Mattis directed the department to drop the name and simply call it military operations on the border.

Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, would only say that the department is no longer using the name. Other U.S. officials say the change was Mattis’ call.

The name hasn’t been formally rescinded, but the Pentagon has stopped using it in press releases and documents.