Senators from both parties voice criticism about Pentagon briefing on US defense strategy
Lawmakers said Colby gave no strategy update and offered unsatisfactory answers on Iran, munitions shortages and election security concerns.
- On Thursday, Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby faced bipartisan criticism after failing to provide an expected update on the National Defense Strategy during a classified Senate Armed Services Committee briefing required by Congress.
- Required by the National Defense Authorization Act, the briefing aimed to explain implementation of the defense blueprint released in January, which reinforces President Donald Trump's America First philosophy of favoring nonintervention and questioning decades of strategic relationships with European allies.
- Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, called the session "just sort of dodge and punt," while Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat, said Colby "was not forthcoming and did not really address our concerns or issues." When directly asked about National Guard deployment at polling places, Colby never answered yes or no, Cramer said.
- Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona left the briefing with unresolved concerns, saying "You walk out with more questions than when you went in," citing a munitions deficit requiring about three years to replenish advanced weapons. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., offered a contrasting view, calling it "constructive, substantive."
- Tensions are mounting between the Pentagon and Congress over transparency regarding the military's priorities, with lawmakers from both parties concerned about the Iran war strategy and reports that President Donald Trump could deploy troops to polling places during November's midterm elections.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Pentagon official’s ‘contemptuous’ briefing sparks bipartisan ire
Senators from both parties emerged from a classified briefing with the Pentagon’s policy chief on Thursday morning expressing outrage at what they described as the official’s stonewalling. The stated purpose of the briefing by Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, was to update the Senate Armed Services Committee on implementation of the National […]
Senators from both parties voice criticism about Pentagon briefing on US defense strategy – WTOP News
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tensions are mounting between the Pentagon and Congress over the flow of information to lawmakers about the U.S. military’s priorities, with both Democrats and Republicans accusing a Defense Department leader of being frustratingly opaque. Some senators from both parties say they were left deeply unsettled Thursday after the Pentagon’s top policy adviser,...
Winnipeg Free Press
Senators from both parties voice criticism about Pentagon briefing on US defense strategy
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tensions are mounting between the Pentagon and Congress over the flow of information to lawmakers about the U.S. military's priorities, with both Democrats and Republicans accusing a Defense Department leader of being frustratingly opaque.
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