Pentagon leaders have issued new directives restricting how military officials communicate with Congress, marking a significant shift in the Department of Defense’s approach to legislative relations.
In an Oct. 15 memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg ordered that all Pentagon officials — including the Joint Chiefs of Staff — must obtain permission from the department’s legislative affairs office before contacting Capitol Hill. The memo warned that unauthorized discussions “may undermine Department-wide priorities critical to achieving our legislative objectives.”
A Pentagon spokesperson described the move as a “pragmatic step” intended to “improve accuracy and responsiveness in communicating with Congress” and promote greater transparency. However, critics say the change could centralize control over information flow and reduce direct oversight.
The new policy coincided with a separate controversy, as Pentagon reporters left the building last week in protest of new restrictions on press access. A second memo, issued Oct. 17, established a working group to further refine the rules for legislative engagement.
Previously, individual branches and agencies managed their own communications with Congress. The memos, first obtained by Breaking Defense, reflect Hegseth’s ongoing effort to consolidate departmental messaging.
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