Hegseth Orders Pentagon Review of Sen. Kelly's Statements on Munitions Stocks

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon's legal counsel will review Sen. Mark Kelly's public comments about a classified briefing on U.S. munitions stockpiles. Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona and retired Navy captain, appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" on May 10, 2026.

According to the transcript, Kelly told host Margaret Brennan that it was "shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines" for Tomahawks, ATACMS, SM-3, THAAD rounds and Patriot interceptors. He stated that replenishing those stocks would take years and that the absence of a strategic goal, plan or timeline for the conflict had left the American people less safe.

Hegseth responded on X that Kelly was "blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly)" about the classified briefing. He questioned whether Kelly had violated his oath and directed the Department of Defense's legal team to examine the matter. Kelly replied on X that the information was not classified because Hegseth had discussed replenishment timelines in a public congressional hearing the previous week.

"We had this conversation in a public hearing a week ago and you said it would take 'years' to replenish some of these stockpiles," Kelly wrote.

Kelly added that the war was imposing serious costs and that President Trump and Hegseth had not explained the conflict's goal to the American people. He questioned what benefit the country was receiving from a conflict that had driven up costs. The Pentagon has provided multiple detailed briefings to lawmakers on the specific munitions expended, according to Kelly.

Kelly noted that the impact on U.S. readiness depends on the length of any potential conflict. He said the country is well-positioned for a short fight measured in days or weeks but would be in a worse posture for a prolonged engagement that lasts months or years while stocks are rebuilt.