Democrats Call Out Pentagon And Hegseth Again

A senior Democrat on two powerful House committees says Congress has been left without answers about a Pentagon investigation into the disclosure of highly sensitive information involving America’s weapons stockpiles.

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., said Sunday that lawmakers have not received a formal briefing about the investigation being conducted under War Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite Congress’ responsibility for overseeing the nation’s military and intelligence operations.

Crow, a senior member of both the House Armed Services Committee and House Intelligence Committee, said lawmakers have instead been learning about the investigation largely through news reports.

The controversy comes as questions surrounding U.S. weapons supplies, military readiness and the handling of classified national security information remain under scrutiny in Washington.

Crow Says Congress Hasn’t Been Briefed

During an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Crow said lawmakers have received little information directly from the Pentagon about the investigation.

The Colorado Democrat said Congress has been forced to rely on publicly available reports to understand the scope of the inquiry.

The investigation reportedly focuses on how classified information concerning America’s stockpiles of sophisticated weapons reached journalists.

Crow made clear that he supports efforts to protect classified information and prevent unauthorized disclosures that could threaten national security.

However, he argued that the larger issue involves how Hegseth has managed the Pentagon and its relationship with Congress, military leaders and the news media.

Crow accused Hegseth of creating what he characterized as an atmosphere of fear inside the Defense Department.

Pentagon Leadership Comes Under Scrutiny

Crow also pointed to major personnel changes involving senior military leadership.

According to the congressman, more than 80 generals and admirals have been removed under Hegseth, representing what Crow described as approximately 10% of the military’s senior chain of command.

He also criticized changes affecting journalists covering the Pentagon and argued that the administration has made it increasingly difficult for information to reach Congress and the public.

Those are Crow’s allegations, and the Pentagon has defended its responsibility to investigate unauthorized disclosures of classified national security information.

The dispute highlights a longstanding tension in Washington: the government’s responsibility to protect military secrets while ensuring elected lawmakers have enough information to conduct meaningful oversight.

Military Officials Reportedly Given Polygraph Tests

The controversy intensified following reports that some of America’s highest-ranking military officials were subjected to polygraph examinations as part of the investigation.

CBS News reported that several dozen senior military personnel were questioned, including some officials associated with U.S. Central Command and other combatant commands.

The New York Times separately reported that approximately 50 members of the Joint Staff underwent examinations.

According to the reports, investigators asked questions aimed at determining whether officials had disclosed sensitive information concerning U.S. munitions stockpiles to journalists.

No one reportedly failed the examinations.

The use of polygraph tests for such a large group of senior military officials has added another layer of scrutiny to an investigation already attracting attention on Capitol Hill.

Questions Grow Over America’s Weapons Stockpiles

At the heart of the controversy is an issue with potentially significant national security implications: the condition of America’s supply of advanced weapons and munitions.

Reports about U.S. weapons inventories have raised questions about how quickly sophisticated munitions are being consumed and how rapidly the defense industry can replace them.

That makes information concerning American weapons stockpiles particularly sensitive.

The Pentagon has emphasized that unauthorized disclosure of classified information is taken seriously.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the department does not publicly discuss internal personnel or investigative matters but investigates leaks involving classified national security information.

Crow Raises Broader Transparency Concerns

Crow argues that Congress should nevertheless receive enough information to perform its oversight responsibilities.

He portrayed the lack of a congressional briefing as part of a broader transparency dispute between lawmakers and the Trump administration.

The congressman’s criticism is especially notable because of his positions on the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, both of which deal extensively with sensitive national security matters.

When questioned about reported concerns involving munitions supplies, Crow suggested that the lack of publicly available information was itself part of the problem.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, faces the competing responsibility of preventing classified military information from reaching unauthorized individuals.

National Security Versus Congressional Oversight

The growing dispute now centers on two important responsibilities of the federal government.

The first is protecting classified information that could reveal sensitive details about America’s military capabilities to foreign adversaries.

The second is ensuring Congress has sufficient information to oversee the executive branch, military spending and national defense policy.

Those responsibilities do not necessarily conflict, but the Pentagon leak investigation has renewed questions about where the line should be drawn.

For lawmakers, several major questions remain unanswered: Who disclosed the classified information? What has the investigation discovered? Why were so many senior military officials reportedly questioned? And when will the appropriate members of Congress receive a detailed briefing?

Until those answers emerge, the investigation is likely to remain a source of scrutiny in Washington — particularly as concerns about U.S. weapons supplies and military readiness continue to attract attention.