On Friday, a new report revealed that Republican lawmakers are fed up with the Pentagon’s evasive behavior. This is according to PBS, which spoke with Republicans about a classified meeting between senators and President Donald Trump’s Defense Department officials, after which the former accused the latter of being “frustratingly opaque.”
“Some senators from both parties say they were left deeply unsettled Thursday after the Pentagon's top policy adviser, Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, failed to provide an expected update on the Trump administration's National Defense Strategy at a classified briefing,” explains PBS. “The lawmakers also say they were unsatisfied with Colby's answers to questions ranging from inquiries about the Iran war to growing concerns that President Donald Trump could deploy troops to polling places during November's midterm congressional elections. Colby acknowledged that discussions about deploying the National Guard were taking place.”
According to Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), instead of answering questions or providing solid information, the meeting was "just sort of dodge and punt." He added, "It's very peculiar to have somebody come in for a congressionally mandated update and not have a statement.” As PBS explains, “Colby, who has supporters and detractors on Capitol Hill, was expected to provide a required briefing on the National Defense Strategy, a comprehensive document that provides guidance for the military. Under the annual National Defense Authorization Act approved by Congress, he was required to provide the Senate Armed Services Committee with the classified briefing on implementation of the strategy no later than Sept. 15.”
"It was not what we had expected," said committee member Senator Mike Rounds. "Let's just put it that way: They owe us a report, and we did not get the report."
“At one point,” writes PBS, “Colby was asked directly if he ever had any discussions about deploying the National Guard for voter security on Election Day. He told senators that he had heard about some of those discussions taking place but that he wasn't leading on the issue. The idea of deploying troops has been gaining attention as the midterms draw closer. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., recently pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to confirm that they won't send troops to polling places. Caine responded to Slotkin in a letter last month that said there are ‘no plans to send Federal military personnel or Federalized members of the National Guard to polling places during the 2026 elections.’”
But as Cramer noted, when Colby was asked about such concerns, he "never once said 'yes' or 'no.’”