Democratic and Republican senators expressed dissatisfaction Thursday following a classified briefing by Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, regarding the National Defense Strategy and the ongoing Iran war. Lawmakers from both parties stated that Colby failed to provide an opening statement or deliver a required report on the implementation of the administration's military priorities.
The briefing, which was mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act to occur by September 15, was intended to update the Senate Armed Services Committee on a strategy released in January. This document reinforces an "America First" philosophy of favoring nonintervention overseas and questioning decades of strategic relationships with allies. Tensions between Colby and oversight panels have persisted, with Republican lawmakers previously citing difficulties in obtaining information from him in November 2025 and March 2026.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) described the lack of a prepared statement as "weird" and "peculiar," while Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said she left without asking questions because Colby was not providing clear responses. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) noted that while the focus was supposed to be on strategy, the session left many questions regarding the seven-month-old Iran war and a "munitions deficit." Conversely, Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) characterized the briefing as "detailed and constructive," stating that Colby answered all questions with substance.
The reported lack of strategic clarity impacts planning for munitions stockpiles. Sen. Kelly noted that the military has struck between 14,000 and 16,000 targets in Iran, contributing to a shortage of advanced weapons like missile interceptors. Experts estimate that military contractors will require approximately three years to replenish these inventories. Furthermore, the dispute comes as a $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027 and a $67.1 billion supplemental request are stuck in legislative limbo until at least mid-November.
A group of nearly all Senate Democrats, joined by Independent Sens. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Angus King (Maine), has formally demanded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provide a detailed breakdown of war costs and the allocation of $34 billion in remaining funds from previous legislation by September 30. Additionally, Colby was asked during the briefing about the potential deployment of the National Guard for voter security on Election Day, and he stated he had heard about those discussions but was not leading on the issue.