Hegseth orders prior approval for 'all interactions' between military officials and Congress

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

PUBLISHED Oct 22, 2025, 5:00 AM ET


The Pentagon is barring nearly all Defense Department personnel, including military commanders, from talking to Congress or state lawmakers unless they have received prior approval from the agency’s office of legislative affairs, according to a memo signed this month by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and obtained by CNN.

“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,” says the memo, which was obtained by CNN.

The directive applies to the civilian leaders of each military branch, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all combatant commanders and Defense Intelligence offices. The memo, dated October 15, does carve out an exception for the Pentagon Inspector General office, the agency’s internal watch dog.

Breaking Defense first reported the details of the policy.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/22/politics/hegseth-limit-congress-communication

[sop]

1. Trump's complete takeover of the U.S. military is well underway.

It's "his military"... just like it's his DOJ, his Supreme Court, his Congress, his Republican party...his everything.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. So, taxpayers are spending a trillion dollars a year for a private, secret TSF military.

[Lovie777]

3. I don't think the military is in shithole and comrades favor..................

Last edited Wed Oct 22, 2025, 09:23 AM - Edit history (1)

the F.B.I., AG, Homeland, DOJ may be filled up of magas but even they are losing steam.

They are imploding, but unfortunately the USA has, and will surfer from this mayhem.

[Autumn]

4. Sounds like the drunk plans on making Congress unnecessary.

Oh well they are useless at this time. I'm sure Republicans will be fine with it. They can go home do nothing and still get rich.

[Volaris]

5. So, publicly piss on Article 1 oversight Power, good call lol...

'...Department-wide priorities...'
in this context means 'clearly illegal'.

[James48]

6. That's another violation of federal law.

I point you to 10 USC Section 1034, which says, in part:

10 U.S. Code § 1034 - Protected communications; prohibition of retaliatory personnel actions

(a) Restricting Communications With Members of Congress and Inspector General Prohibited.—
(1) No person may restrict a member of the armed forces in communicating with a Member of Congress or an Inspector General.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a communication that is unlawful.
(b) Prohibition of Retaliatory Personnel Actions.—
(1) No person may take (or threaten to take) an unfavorable personnel action, or withhold (or threaten to withhold) a favorable personnel action, as a reprisal against a member of the armed forces for making or preparing or being perceived as making or preparing—
(A) a communication to a Member of Congress or an Inspector General that (under subsection (a)) may not be restricted;
(B) a communication that is described in subsection (c)(2) and that is made (or prepared to be made) to—
(i) a Member of Congress;
(ii) an Inspector General (as defined in subsection (j)) or any other Inspector General appointed under chapter 4 of title 5;
(iii) a member of a Department of Defense audit, inspection, investigation, or law enforcement organization;
(iv) any person or organization in the chain of command;
(v) a court-martial proceeding; or
(vi) any other person or organization designated pursuant to regulations or other established administrative procedures for such communications; or
(C) testimony, or otherwise participating in or assisting in an investigation or proceeding related to a communication under subparagraph (A) or (B), or filing, causing to be filed, participating in, or otherwise assisting in an action brought under this section.
(2)
(A) The actions considered for purposes of this section to be a personnel action prohibited by this subsection shall include any action prohibited by paragraph (1), including any of the following:
(i) The threat to take any unfavorable action.
(ii) The withholding, or threat to withhold, any favorable action.
(iii) The making of, or threat to make, a significant change in the duties or responsibilities of a member of the armed forces not commensurate with the member’s grade.
(iv) The failure of a superior to respond to any retaliatory action or harassment (of which the superior had actual knowledge) taken by one or more subordinates against a member.
(v) The conducting of a retaliatory investigation of a member.

There is more, but you get the point. It’s illegal to interfere with a soldiers communication with Congress.

[Bayard]

13. Bookmarking for future use

Thanks!

[slightlv]

7. THIS is SO wrong, IMO...

but what else is new? (sigh) Throw away another one of our rights... the right to assembly, as well as the right to speech. If only we could put an actual, physical gag on trump and his miscreants.

[IronLionZion]

8. Planning some nasty illegal stuff with no oversight?

getting rid of any pesky checks and balances. Just full on abuse. MAGA!

There are many signs pointing to war with Venezuela. It's not very subtle. He's said things like America's longest war is the war on drugs.

[BurnDoubt]

9. So... then...

Only he can leak official documents?

[oldinmtdem92]

10. old stinkypants

king shittypants wants to takeover the cocaine trade taking out competition .

[angrychair]

11. Clearly a crime

Congress has oversight of DoD and the military. That Republicans are not doing that is par for the course.

[Marthe48]

12. Soldiers not slaves

N/t