Is the Pentagon playing hide-and-seek with Congress, or just stumbling through a policy maze? Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle unleashed their frustration during a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, slamming the Department of War for poor communication and questionable alignment with national priorities. It’s a rare bipartisan moment, but not the kind anyone celebrates.
The crux of the issue unfolded during a nomination hearing on November 4, 2025, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where tensions over the Pentagon’s engagement—or lack thereof—with Congress boiled over, as Fox News reports.
This hearing wasn’t just a formality for nominees Austin Dahmer, Robert Kadlec, and Michael J. Borders Jr.; it became a battleground for airing grievances. Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., set the tone by introducing the candidates while subtly jabbing at the Pentagon’s recent missteps. If only policy coordination were as smooth as his opening remarks.
Let’s rewind a bit to last week, when the Pentagon announced it would discontinue the rotational deployment of an infantry brigade combat team in Romania. According to a press release from U.S. Army Europe and Africa, this isn’t a retreat from NATO commitments but a nod to Europe’s growing capability to handle its own defense. Sounds noble, but Congress seems to think they deserved a heads-up before the press did.
Then there’s the memo from War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy War Secretary Steve Feinberg, dated October 15, 2025, mandating that all congressional interactions go through the department’s central legislative affairs office. The Pentagon insists this is about streamlining transparency, but lawmakers smell a gag order. When did “coordination” start meaning “control”?
Nominee Austin Dahmer, who’s been acting as deputy undersecretary of war since March 2025, now faces a tough road if confirmed as assistant secretary for strategy, plans, and capabilities. His role would involve steering the Pentagon’s global posture and aligning with President Trump’s foreign policy vision—a tall order when Congress feels left in the dark. One wonders if he’s ready to bridge this gaping trust gap.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., didn’t mince words, pointing to a string of Pentagon blunders like a paused aid package to Ukraine in March 2025 and a scrapped meeting with Japanese officials in June. “I understand that media reports can be wrong, believe me, but it just seems like there’s this pigpen-like mess coming out of a policy shop,” Cotton said. A messy barnyard analogy? That’s conservative wit with a side of exasperation.
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., echoed the sentiment from across the aisle, lamenting the Pentagon’s apparent apathy toward congressional outreach. “We see no sense of urgency to relate to Congress,” Rosen stated. Even Democrats are fed up—perhaps the only unity we’ll see in Washington this year.
The nominees—Dahmer and Kadlec for the Department of War, and Borders for the Air Force—sat through a storm of criticism not entirely of their making. Yet, as potential leaders, they’re inheriting a Pentagon that seems to treat Congress like an afterthought. Will they be the ones to fix this disconnect, or just more cogs in a broken machine?
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby took a direct hit during the hearing, with lawmakers calling him nearly impossible to reach. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, didn’t hold back, grumbling about the lack of response from someone supposedly on the same team. If allies can’t get a call back, how are adversaries supposed to take us seriously?
The Pentagon’s defense? Spokespeople claim they’re engaging with Congress regularly, pointing to numerous briefings under Colby’s leadership. Yet, when senators from both parties are griping, those “dozens of briefings” start sounding like empty boasts.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell tried to polish the narrative, asserting that the department aims to boost accuracy and responsiveness in its dealings with Congress. But when policies like the Romania troop adjustment drop without warning, it’s hard to buy the “transparency” pitch. Actions, not memos, build trust.
Back to the nominees: Dahmer’s potential role in shaping the National Defense Strategy and global posture makes him a linchpin in this drama. If confirmed, he’ll need to juggle congressional expectations with an administration agenda that’s already clashing with Pentagon moves. No pressure, right?
The hearing revealed a deeper issue—lawmakers feel sidelined on national security, from troop deployments to alliance agreements like AUKUS. It’s not just about bruised egos; it’s about ensuring America’s defense decisions aren’t made in a vacuum. Congress isn’t asking for a veto, just a seat at the table.
So, where do we go from here? The Pentagon must decide if it’s a partner to Congress or a lone wolf in policy-making—and these nominees might be the ones to tip the scales. Until then, expect more bipartisan tongue-lashings, because if there’s one thing uniting Washington, it’s frustration with a disconnected defense establishment.
