WASHINGTON — In a uncommon second of public intraparty frustration, Republican senators as we speak blasted a prime Protection Division official for not cooperating with congressional oversight.
All through a affirmation listening to held by the Senate Armed Companies Committee for 3 completely different Pentagon nominees, senators from each events aired their frustrations with what they described as Pentagon coverage chief Elbridge Colby’s opaque decision-making, asserting that lawmakers weren’t stored abreast of key strikes just like the current announcement of withdrawing US troops from Romania. Nevertheless it was feedback from Republicans, particularly Armed Companies Chairman Roger Wicker, that stood out.
“All through this 12 months, the committee has had a comparatively optimistic relationship with the Pentagon, particularly Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and Deputy Secretary [Steve] Feinberg. I’ve been disenchanted to search out one exception to that cordiality: Members and workers of this committee have struggled to obtain data from the coverage workplace and haven’t been capable of seek the advice of in a significant approach with the store, both on the Nationwide Protection Technique or” a assessment of the US army’s international power posture, Wicker mentioned in opening remarks throughout the listening to.
“This doesn’t match our expertise with the primary Trump administration,” mentioned Wicker, a Mississippi Republican who has largely averted criticizing the Trump Pentagon till now. He then added, “the scenario wants to enhance if we’re to craft the very best protection coverage.”
Colby serves because the undersecretary of protection for coverage, typically described because the third-most essential job within the Pentagon. An extended-time assume tanker, Colby emerged within the first Trump administration as a number one China hawk voice, a job he rode into his present place, which locations him answerable for crafting the Nationwide Protection Technique amongst different duties.
Nonetheless, Colby has additionally emerged as a lightning rod for criticism, reportedly driving choices to pause support to Ukraine and launching a assessment of the AUKUS trilateral safety pact — strikes that reportedly caught members of the administration unexpectedly. Extra just lately, the anticipated focus of the NDS on homeland protection as a substitute of battle within the Pacific has led to grumblings among the many China hawk group he beforehand championed.
Senators largely directed their displeasure at Austin Dahmer, the Trump administration’s nominee to function the Protection Division’s assistant secretary for technique, plans and forces — a place whose title, lawmakers revealed, was modified with out their consciousness. Lawmakers’ discontent additionally comes amid a broader crackdown by the Pentagon on communications with Congress that was previously reported by Breaking Protection.
“The man you’re going to go work for has been actually unhealthy on this, the worst within the administration,” Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska, mentioned to Dahmer when discussing how Colby was troublesome to achieve. Dahmer’s present position, performing the duties of the deputy below secretary of protection for coverage, and the brand new submit he has been nominated for each fall below Colby.
“However man, I can’t even get a response, and we’re in your group!” an exasperated Sullivan added, who together with Wicker said that it appeared the Pentagon’s coverage store was truly undermining President Donald Trump’s objectives.
All through the listening to, Dahmer fielded questions on a variety of matters, together with a pause on Ukraine support and deadly strikes on small boats the Trump administration asserts are trafficking medicine. In line with Dahmer, he was “not conscious” of any halt in support to Kyiv — regardless of a high-profile Oval Workplace blowup that temporarily stopped the move of weapons and a separate, publicly confirmed stockpile assessment — and Romanian officers had been knowledgeable of the withdrawal of a US brigade from the nation prematurely. (Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, asserted that Bucharest was blindsided by the brigade withdrawal primarily based on conversations with Romanian officers.)
Lawmakers had been briefed 3 times in regards to the Romania determination as effectively, Dahmer mentioned, although senators on the committee disputed that. After publication of this report, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson mentioned in a press release, “The Committees had been pre-notified of the choice. Briefings had been provided to the Committees this week.”
“You’re clearly avoiding solutions to questions that it is best to have been conscious about in your place. That doesn’t augur very effectively in your position and the way forward for the Division of Protection,” Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island and the committee’s rating member, mentioned after questioning Dahmer on the choices to pause Ukraine support and take away troops from Romania.
Reed additionally asserted that the Pentagon reshuffled the portfolios of deputy assistant secretaries who would report back to Dahmer, if he’s confirmed to his new position, with out correctly consulting Congress. Inside Protection reported that the Pentagon’s coverage store is being overhauled by merging roles, dissolving positions and renaming posts — modifications that Wicker mentioned had been spelled out in a letter dated Oct. 8 however solely delivered Sunday evening.
“I perceive that media reviews could be improper, imagine me, however it simply looks like there’s this Pigpen-like mess popping out of the coverage store that you just don’t see from” different places of work, mentioned Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas. Cotton then requested Dahmer why he thinks that’s.
“Senator, I want to perceive that myself,” Dahmer replied, blaming “pretend information” and “inaccurate reporting.”
UPDATED 11/4/25 at 5:47 PM ET with remark from the Pentagon on the withdrawal of US troops from Romania, in addition to clarification from Sen. Tom Cotton’s workplace in regards to the Peanuts character Pigpen.
