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Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly’s US weapons stockpile remarks
TL;DR
Pete Hegseth has referred Senator Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers for allegedly disclosing classified information about US weapons stockpiles. Kelly claims his information was obtained from the defense secretary during a public session, not a classified briefing.
Key points
- Pete Hegseth referred Senator Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers
- Kelly discussed US weapons stockpiles during a public session
- Hegseth accused Kelly of disclosing classified information
- Kelly claims his information was from a Senate briefing
- Replenishment of weapons could take years
Mentioned in this story
Pete HegsethMark KellyPentagonIran
Tomahawk cruise missilesArmy Tactical Missile SystemsSM-3 interceptorsTHAAD rounds
Pete Hegseth said he has referred Senator Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers for allegedly disclosing classified information about depleted US weapons stockpiles – information Kelly says he heard from the defense secretary, in public, under oath.
Speaking on CBS News’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Kelly said American inventories of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Army Tactical Missile Systems, SM-3 interceptors, THAAD rounds and Patriot missiles had been severely drawn down during the Iran conflict, warning that replenishment could take years and leave the US exposed in any future confrontation with China.
Hegseth responded on X, accusing Kelly of disclosing details from a classified Pentagon briefing and saying the department’s legal counsel would review whether the senator had violated his oath.
“Now he’s blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a *CLASSIFIED* Pentagon briefing he received,” Hegseth wrote on social media. “Did he violate his oath…again?”
Kelly then countered that the information didn’t come from a classified press briefing, but rather from Hegseth’s own mouth while at a late April Senate briefing on the Pentagon’s future budget and war with Iran.
“That’s not classified, it’s a quote from you,” Kelly wrote. “This war is coming at a serious cost and you and the president still haven’t explained to the American people what the goal is.”
The exchange did indeed happen between the two men on 30 April at the Senate armed services committee hearing conducted in an open session, where Kelly asked Hegseth directly: “How many years will it take to replenish our munitions from Trump’s war in Iran?”
“Months and years,” Hegseth responded. “Fast.”
The confrontation is the latest in a dispute between the two men stretching back to last Fall, when Kelly joined five fellow Democratic lawmakers – all veterans or former intelligence officials – in a video reminding military personnel they are legally obligated to refuse unlawful orders. The other participants included senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and representatives Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Maggie Goodlander and Jason Crow.
Q&A
What did Mark Kelly say about US weapons stockpiles?
Mark Kelly stated that US inventories of various missile systems have been severely reduced during the Iran conflict, warning of potential vulnerabilities in future confrontations.
Why did Pete Hegseth refer Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers?
Hegseth referred Kelly for allegedly disclosing classified information about US weapons stockpiles, claiming he violated his oath by discussing details from a classified briefing.
What was Kelly's defense against Hegseth's accusations?
Kelly defended himself by asserting that his information came from a public Senate briefing, not a classified one, countering Hegseth's claims.
