Pentagon to Review Senator Mark Kelly’s Comments on US Weapons Stockpiles

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called for a Pentagon review into comments made by Democratic Senator Mark Kelly about American weapons stockpiles following the Iran conflict.
The original report can be read on BBC News

Hegseth Accuses Kelly of Revealing Sensitive Information

Hegseth criticized Kelly after the senator discussed US military munitions supplies during an interview on CBS News’ Face The Nation. The defence secretary claimed Kelly may have publicly disclosed information from a classified Pentagon briefing. In a post on X, Hegseth accused Kelly of “blabbing on TV” and questioned whether the senator had violated his oath by discussing military stockpile details.

Kelly Warns About Declining US Munitions Reserves

During the interview, Kelly expressed concern over the state of US weapons inventories after the Iran war. He said it was “shocking” how deeply the United States had gone into its military stockpiles. The Arizona senator referenced Pentagon discussions about specific weapons systems and replenishment timelines, warning that the conflict was placing serious pressure on America’s defence resources.

Senator Denies Sharing Classified Material

Kelly denied revealing any classified information and responded directly to Hegseth’s accusations on social media. The senator posted a video from a Senate hearing held last month where Hegseth himself discussed the same issue publicly. Kelly argued that the information was already available in an open hearing and therefore could not be considered classified.
“That’s not classified, it’s a quote from you,” Kelly wrote in response to Hegseth.
Kelly also criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran conflict, saying officials had failed to clearly explain the purpose and long-term goals of the war to the American public.

Pentagon Declines Further Comment

When journalists asked whether an official investigation into Kelly had been launched, the Pentagon reportedly referred reporters back to Hegseth’s social media comments instead of offering additional clarification. The controversy adds to growing political tensions between Kelly and the Trump administration over military policy and free speech issues involving US service members.

Ongoing Legal Dispute Between Kelly and Pentagon

The dispute comes shortly after a federal appeals court appeared unlikely to support Pentagon efforts to punish Kelly over earlier comments encouraging US troops to reject unlawful military orders. Kelly and five other lawmakers had previously released a video urging service members not to obey commands they believed were illegal. In January, Kelly filed a lawsuit accusing Hegseth of trying to demote him in retaliation for criticizing the Trump administration. A US district judge later blocked the demotion temporarily while the case continues. The Pentagon has since appealed the ruling, keeping the legal battle active.