Key facts
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has excluded Democrats from classified briefings on the proposed $1.5tn defense budget.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing criticism from Republican senators for excluding Democrats from classified briefings on the proposed $1.5tn military budget. Lawmakers warn this approach could jeopardize the budget's passage, as Democratic votes are needed for full funding.
The exclusion of Democrats from defense budget briefings risks alienating a key voting bloc needed for the budget's passage, potentially jeopardizing national security funding and highlighting internal divisions within the Republican party regarding bipartisan cooperation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing criticism from Republican senators for excluding Democrats from classified briefings concerning the proposed $1.5tn military budget increase. Lawmakers from both parties stated that Hegseth has repeatedly kept Democrats out of closed-door sessions aimed at garnering support for the budget.
Senator Thom Tillis argued that Hegseth's strategy is counterproductive, stating that the defense secretary needs to "engage" with nearly half the Senate to win support for the budget. He noted that Democratic votes will likely be necessary for the budget's passage, even with Republican support through reconciliation.
Senate Democrats have indicated they might boycott the funding bills entirely if they continue to be excluded from these briefings. This exclusion could potentially hinder the administration's spending priorities for the upcoming fall.
Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, affirmed the department's commitment to working with Congress to equip warfighters. He stated that Secretary Hegseth and senior leadership regularly discuss the defense budget and national security with lawmakers.
Republican Senators Mike Rounds and Lisa Murkowski also voiced concerns, with Rounds mentioning he had raised the issue of engaging Democrats with defense department officials. Pentagon officials reportedly expressed fears of classified material leaks as a reason for the exclusion, according to Rounds. Murkowski emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach to such briefings.
The dispute follows Hegseth's earlier comments in April, where he described congressional Democrats as a significant "impediment" to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, labeling their words as "reckless, feckless and defeatist."