House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sharply criticized Republicans over the Trump administration’s new policy limiting Pentagon outreach to members of Congress.
Speaking to reporters in the Capitol, Jeffries first targeted Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary responsible for implementing the new restrictions, portraying him as unqualified. He then shifted his critique to Republicans on Capitol Hill, accusing them of being too willing to accept President Trump’s policies even when they undermine congressional powers.
“Donald Trump knows that House and Senate Republicans, they function like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump cartel. That’s how they act,” Jeffries said. “They just rubber-stamp Trump’s extreme policies and they move on. Don’t say anything about it. Boss says jump, they just say, ‘How high?’”
The new policy, outlined in an October 15 memo from Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, requires Pentagon personnel to coordinate any interactions with Congress through the Department’s central office of legislative affairs.
This change is intended “to ensure consistency and support for the Department’s priorities to re-establish deterrence, rebuild our military, and revive the warrior ethos,” the memo states.
“Unauthorized engagements with Congress by [Defense Department] personnel acting in their official capacity, no matter how well-intentioned, may undermine Department-wide priorities critical to achieving our legislative objectives,” Hegseth and Feinberg added.
The policy, first reported by Breaking Defense, marks a significant shift in how Pentagon officials interact with members of Congress and their staffs. Traditionally, these engagements have been managed by the individual branches of the military rather than a centralized office.
This move is part of a broader effort by Hegseth to consolidate power within the Pentagon and control the flow of information outside the department.
Earlier in the month, the Pentagon also required reporters to sign agreements prohibiting them from seeking information the department does not want made public. Those who declined—including every major news outlet in Washington—had their Pentagon press credentials revoked.
Throughout these controversies, Republicans on Capitol Hill have remained supportive of the administration, praising President Trump as a historic figure who moves quickly to get things done.
In contrast, Democrats have voiced strong opposition, accusing Trump of trampling long-standing norms and, at times, breaking laws, all while Republicans remain silent.
“That’s how Republicans have been behaving all year,” Jeffries said. “Our thing is that, no, we are a separate and coequal branch of government.”
https://wgntv.com/hill-politics/jeffries-bashes-gop-over-new-policy-limiting-pentagon-talks-with-congress/
