Washington, Oct 22 (Planet Akinadé) — In a move drawing both political scrutiny and institutional concern, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued a sweeping directive requiring nearly all Pentagon personnel to seek prior authorization before communicating with members of the U.S. Congress.
The new policy was first reported, on October 21, by global defense digital news platform Breaking Defense. The directive, outlined in an internal memo dated October 15 and co-signed by Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg, states that all official communications, including briefings, phone calls, emails, or meetings, between Department of Defense (DoD) officials and lawmakers must first be cleared by the Pentagon’s Office of Legislative Affairs.
According to the memo, this change aims to “coordinate and align Department messaging when engaging with Congress to ensure consistency and support for the Department’s priorities to re-establish deterrence, rebuild our military, and revive the warrior ethos.”
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The new policy applies broadly to military service chiefs, combatant commanders, civilian leaders, and even members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — a group typically afforded wide latitude in engaging with congressional committees that oversee the military.
Critics argue the directive could significantly disrupt the flow of information between Congress and the armed forces, particularly during crises or budget deliberations. Several lawmakers from both parties have expressed alarm, calling the policy a potential threat to legislative oversight — a fundamental pillar of U.S. democratic governance.
“This memo is symptomatic of the paranoia that is emanating from the Defense Department,” said Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. “We cannot carry out effective oversight if every conversation requires prior approval from a political appointee.”
While defending the move, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called it a “pragmatic internal process” to ensure accuracy and alignment in communications with Congress. He stressed that the policy does not prevent Congress from obtaining information, but rather ensures that department officials present a “coherent and unified” message.
“This is about clarity and discipline, not secrecy or censorship,” Parnell said at a press briefing. “Congress still has full authority to request information and testimony, and the Department remains committed to transparency.”
Congressional committees are expected to call hearings to examine the implications of the new policy. However, Pentagon insiders report uncertainty about how strictly the rule will be enforced and whether exceptions will be made for sensitive or urgent matters.
Meanwhile, the directive stands as a powerful symbol of the Hegseth-led Pentagon’s desire for control and a flashpoint in the ongoing tug-of-war between military leadership and democratic accountability.
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Sources:
Finley, B. & Toropin, K. (2025). Hegseth changes policy on how Pentagon officials communicate with Congress. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/21/defense-department-pentagon-hegseth-congress/90711972-aef4-11f0-ab72-a5fffa9bf3eb_story.html
Insinna, V. & Hitchens, T. (2025). EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon clamps down on military interactions with Congress. Breaking Defense. https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/pentagon-congress-restrictions-information-legislative-affairs-hegseth-feinberg-memo/
Reuters (2025). Pentagon tightens control on staff communication with US Congress. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/pentagon-tightens-control-communicating-with-us-congress-2025-10-21/