WASHINGTON (Realist English). The Pentagon has imposed new restrictions on how military officials communicate with Congress, following two internal memos signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg last week.
According to an Oct. 15 memo, all Pentagon personnel — including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — must now obtain approval from the Department’s legislative affairs office before any contact with lawmakers or their staff. The directive marks a sharp shift from previous practice, when individual branches and agencies managed their own congressional communications.
The memo, authenticated by a Pentagon official, warns that “unauthorized engagements with Congress by Department personnel, no matter how well-intentioned, may undermine priorities critical to achieving our legislative objectives.”
The order was issued on the same day most Pentagon reporters walked out of the building in protest of new media restrictions, raising concerns about a broader effort by Hegseth to tighten control over the flow of information.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell described the move as a “pragmatic step” aimed at improving “accuracy and responsiveness” in dealings with Congress and facilitating “greater transparency.”
A second memo dated Oct. 17 established a working group to further define the new rules on legislative engagement, signaling that more detailed guidance is expected in the coming weeks.
