Republican senators have criticised the Pentagon for excluding Democrats from classified briefings regarding defense spending. They have warned that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s approach could jeopardise the passage of Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5tn military budget increase.
According to lawmakers from both parties, Mr Hegseth has made at least two trips to Capitol Hill in recent weeks to discuss the budget, but has repeatedly excluded Democrats from these closed-door sessions.
Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, stated that Mr Hegseth was undermining his own case by not engaging with nearly half the members of the Senate. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota also raised the issue with defense department officials, noting that Democratic members need to be informed, though Pentagon officials reportedly feared classified material would leak. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska called for a bipartisan approach to the briefings.
Much of next year’s defense budget will require Democratic votes to pass. Senate Democrats have reportedly threatened to boycott the funding bills altogether, which could impact the administration’s spending priorities this autumn.
Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, stated that the Department of War is committed to working with Congress to ensure resources for warfighters and that Secretary Hegseth regularly engages with lawmakers on the defense budget and national security priorities.