Jeffries Criticizes Pentagon’s New Policy on Congressional Interactions

House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York has voiced strong criticism against Republicans following the Trump administration’s recent directive that limits the Pentagon’s engagement with Congress.

During a press briefing on Capitol Hill, Jeffries took aim at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, labeling him as unfit for his role and redirecting his ire towards the Republicans, whom he accused of blindly adhering to Trump’s agenda at the expense of Congress’s authority.

“Donald Trump understands that Republicans in both the House and Senate function like subordinates to the Trump cartel. That’s essentially what they’re doing,” Jeffries stated. “They simply endorse Trump’s radical policies and don’t raise any objections.

“When my boss says jump, they ask, ‘How high?'”

On October 15, Hegseth, alongside Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg, announced a new policy that obligates Pentagon officials to route their communications with Congress through a central legislative office. This initiative was aimed at reinforcing the priorities of the Department of Defense concerning deterrence, military rebuilding, and invigorating the warrior spirit, according to their memo.

They pointed out that “unauthorized interactions with Congress” could disrupt the Department’s essential legislative goals, regardless of intent.

This shift was initially reported by Breaking Defense earlier this week.

The policy marks a significant alteration in the Pentagon’s approach to engagement with Congress, a responsibility that has typically fallen to specific military branches rather than a central office. It also fits within Hegseth’s broader strategy to centralize power within the Pentagon and address information leaks.

In a related move, the Pentagon recently required journalists to sign an agreement prohibiting inquiries into information the department prefers to keep private. Major news organizations that declined, including those in Washington, saw their press credentials suspended.

Amidst the ongoing debate, Republicans in Congress have largely stood by the administration, holding Trump in high regard as a significant figure who acts decisively. Conversely, Democrats have criticized Trump for disregarding established norms and occasionally violating the law, yet Republicans have remained largely silent on these points.

“That’s the Republican approach,” Jeffries remarked. “What we value is maintaining our status as an independent, co-equal branch of government.”