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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a second investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly, citing alleged leaks about classified US weapons stockpiles amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday intensified his conflict with Senator Mark Kelly by calling for a new Pentagon investigation into the Democratic senator’s comments regarding US weapon stockpiles. This marks the second time Hegseth has ordered a review into Kelly’s conduct, escalating tensions between the Defense Department and the Arizona senator who sits on key intelligence and armed services committees.
Hegseth’s latest directive comes in response to remarks Kelly made on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” where he expressed alarm over the depth of US munitions reserves. The Defense Secretary accused the retired Navy captain and former astronaut of “blabbing on TV” about a classified Pentagon briefing, questioning whether Kelly had violated his oath of office. Hegseth took to social media to announce that the Department of War’s legal counsel would review the senator’s actions, asking publicly if he had breached protocol again.
In his Sunday appearance, Kelly detailed his concerns following briefings on specific munitions, including Tomahawks, ATACMS, and Patriot rounds. He told CBS News’ Margaret Brennan that he found it “shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines.” Kelly emphasized that the significant expenditure of these weapons means “the American people are less safe,” whether facing a potential conflict in the western Pacific with China or elsewhere. He explicitly stated that munitions are currently depleted.
Kelly swiftly responded to Hegseth’s social media post by sharing a video from a recent Senate hearing. In the clip, Hegseth is seen acknowledging that replenishing some of these stockpiles would take “years.” Kelly argued that this statement was not classified but was a direct quote from the Defense Secretary himself, adding that the current “war is coming at a serious cost.” When CNN sought further comment from Kelly’s office, the request was noted, while the Pentagon referred media inquiries back to Hegseth’s original social media post.
This legal and political clash occurs just days after a federal appeals court signaled its reluctance to support Hegseth’s previous attempt to punish Kelly. A three-judge panel at the DC US Circuit Court of Appeals last week expressed skepticism regarding the Justice Department’s arguments to revive administrative punishments against the senator. Those previous plans, which were initially shut down by a lower court as unconstitutionally retaliatory, involved reducing Kelly’s retired pay and issuing a letter of censure for a November video where he and five other Democratic senators urged service members to refuse illegal orders.
Kelly filed a lawsuit against Hegseth in January after the Defense Secretary announced the administrative action. The ongoing dispute highlights a deepening rift between the military leadership and elected officials overseeing defense policy. The context of this argument is now heavily influenced by the realities of the Iran war, which has been ongoing for more than two months.
According to CNN reporting, the US military has significantly depleted its stockpile of key missiles during this conflict. Experts and three individuals familiar with recent internal Defense Department assessments warn of a “near-term risk” of running out of ammunition should another conflict arise in the coming years. This depletion is not theoretical but quantified in recent analyses.
Data compiled by the Center for Strategic and Strategic and International Studies indicates that as of April 21, the US military had expended at least 45% of its Precision Strike Missiles. Additionally, at least half of the inventory of THAAD missiles, designed to intercept ballistic missiles, has been used. Nearly 50% of the stockpile of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles is also gone. These figures closely align with classified Pentagon data regarding US stockpile levels.
The convergence of legal battles over executive privilege and the physical depletion of military resources underscores the high stakes of this ongoing confrontation. Hegseth’s second call for an investigation suggests the Defense Secretary is determined to hold Kelly accountable for what he perceives as leaks of sensitive operational details, while Kelly and his supporters view the stockpile discussions as critical public information regarding national security risks.
The rapid depletion of critical munitions like Precision Strike Missiles and THAAD systems during the Iran war poses immediate strategic risks. As the Pentagon contends with legal challenges to its authority over retired officers’ conduct, the tangible loss of hardware suggests that future US military readiness may be severely compromised. If current expenditure rates continue, the “near-term risk” of ammunition shortages could force difficult geopolitical choices or delay responses to emerging global threats, fundamentally altering US defense capabilities in the coming years.
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