WASHINGTON — In a uncommon second of public intraparty frustration, Republican senators right now 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 totally 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 latest 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 constructive relationship with the Pentagon, particularly Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and Deputy Secretary [Steve] Feinberg. I’ve been upset to seek out one exception to that cordiality: Members and employees of this committee have struggled to obtain info from the coverage workplace and haven’t been capable of seek the advice of in a significant method with the store, both on the Nationwide Protection Technique or” a evaluate of the US navy’s international pressure posture, Wicker stated in opening remarks in the course of the listening to.
“This doesn’t match our expertise with the primary Trump administration,” stated Wicker, a Mississippi Republican who has largely prevented 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 vital 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 in command of crafting the Nationwide Protection Technique amongst different tasks.
Nevertheless, Colby has additionally emerged as a lightning rod for criticism, reportedly driving selections to pause support to Ukraine and launching a evaluate of the AUKUS trilateral safety pact — strikes that reportedly caught members of the administration without warning. Extra lately, the anticipated focus of the NDS on homeland protection as an alternative of battle within the Pacific has led to grumblings among the many China hawk neighborhood 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 beforehand reported by Breaking Protection.
“The man you’re going to go work for has been actually dangerous on this, the worst within the administration,” Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska, stated to Dahmer when discussing how Colby was tough to succeed in. Dahmer’s present function, 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 staff!” an exasperated Sullivan added, who together with Wicker acknowledged that it appeared the Pentagon’s coverage store was truly undermining President Donald Trump’s targets.
All through the listening to, Dahmer fielded questions on a variety of subjects, together with a pause on Ukraine support and deadly strikes on small boats the Trump administration asserts are trafficking medication. In line with Dahmer, he was “not conscious” of any halt in support to Kyiv — regardless of a high-profile Oval Workplace blowup that quickly stopped the circulate of weapons and a separate, publicly confirmed stockpile evaluate — and Romanian officers have 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 based mostly on conversations with Romanian officers.)
Lawmakers have been briefed 3 times in regards to the Romania resolution as nicely, Dahmer stated, although senators on the committee disputed that. After publication of this report, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson stated in a press release, “The Committees have been pre-notified of the choice. Briefings have been provided to the Committees this week.”
“You’re clearly avoiding solutions to questions that it is best to have been aware of in your place. That doesn’t augur very nicely to your function and the way forward for the Division of Protection,” Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island and the committee’s rating member, stated 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 function, 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 — adjustments that Wicker stated have been spelled out in a letter dated Oct. 8 however solely delivered Sunday evening.
“I perceive that media studies may be mistaken, consider me, but it surely 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, stated 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.
