[6] In February 2022, McCarthy joined the Maxwell School of Syracuse University as a resident scholar, serving as a strategic advisor and subject matter expert.

[14] In 2020, amid the George Floyd protests, McCarthy activated the D.C. National Guard, which included the use of aviation assets to support local and Federal law enforcement efforts.

The Army investigation into the National Guard's use of low-flying helicopters during a June 2020 demonstration in Washington, D.C., found a "systematic lack of understanding" of how to use military aviation to respond to civil disturbances and resulted in disciplinary action taken against several individuals involved in the operation.

[19][20] On March 4 Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said defense officials approved a police request for assistance in about 60 minutes and the D.C. National Guard "reacted faster than the most elite forces from a cold start".

[21] In a testimony to Congress, McCarthy said there had been no plans to have the D.C. National Guard assist Capitol police in case events that day escalated.

[23] On November 16, 2021, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released their findings[24] on the actions that took place to prepare for and respond to protests at the U.S. Capitol.

[25] In February 2019, McCarthy, then Under Secretary for the U.S. Army said he is embarrassed the service had to learn about soldiers and family members living in mold-infested, dilapidated on-post housing from news reports.

By April 2020 the Army had 14 Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces throughout New York City hospitals and the Javits Center and several sites in New Jersey.

Upon hearing about the discovery of Guillén's remains, Robinson fled Fort Hood and fatally shot himself when law enforcement attempted to apprehend him in Killeen, Texas, shortly after midnight.

McCarthy said that Guillén's murder "shocked our conscience and brought attention to deeper problems" at Fort Hood and across the Army more widely.

The findings resulted in administrative action against a total of 14 leaders to include commanders at Fort Hood, citing multiple "leadership failures".

The command is focused on six priorities: 1) Long-range precision fires, 2) Next Generation Combat Vehicle, 3) Future Vertical Lift platforms, 4) a mobile & expeditionary Army network, 5) air and missile defense capabilities,[6] and 6) soldier lethality.