Hegseth criticized for locking Democrats out of closed-door defense budget talks

Key Points:

• Republican senators have criticized Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth for excluding Democrats from classified briefings on defense spending, warning this approach could hinder approval of President Trump's $1.5 trillion military budget increase.
• Despite Hegseth's multiple Capitol Hill visits to promote the budget, Democrats have been repeatedly locked out of closed-door sessions, raising concerns about bipartisan cooperation needed to pass much of the defense budget.
• Senator Thom Tillis and others argue that excluding Democrats undermines efforts to secure broad support, especially since Senate Democrats have threatened to boycott the funding bills entirely.
• Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that Hegseth and senior leaders regularly engage with lawmakers on defense priorities, while some Republicans, including Senators Mike Rounds and Lisa Murkowski, have called for bipartisan briefings to ensure all members are informed.
• The controversy follows Hegseth's earlier remarks labeling congressional Democrats as a major obstacle to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, which has further strained relations between the Pentagon and Democratic lawmakers.