Sen. Kelly Discusses Pentagon Munitions Data From Iran War Briefings on CBS

Sen. Mark Kelly appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" on May 11, 2026, and described information from Pentagon briefings he received as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee on munitions expended during the war with Iran. Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona with prior Navy and NASA service, cited specific systems including Tomahawk, THAAD, ATACMS, and Patriot missiles.

" He referenced open congressional briefings as the basis for his remarks. On the same program Kelly noted that when he entered the Senate five and a half years earlier the defense budget stood at just over $700 billion. The Trump administration released its fiscal year 2027 budget request last month, which would represent a 42 percent increase in defense spending from 2026 levels and includes funding for a space-based "Golden Dome" missile defense system.

" The White House is expected to request a supplemental spending package to cover costs of the Iran war. Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III told lawmakers in late April 2026 that the war had cost at least $25 billion to that point. Officials familiar with internal assessments suggested the total could reach closer to $50 billion.

The Pentagon has stated it hit some 13,000 targets in the conflict.

The Pentagon had already been grappling with concerns over weapon stockpiles and replenishment rates prior to the war with Iran. A Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis found that restoring pre-war stocks could take up to four years.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing the week before May 11, 2026, Pete Hegseth said it would take years to replenish stockpiles to pre-war levels. The Pentagon says it has used half of its inventory of certain munitions fighting Iran.

Hours after the CBS interview, Hegseth posted on social media: "'Captain' Mark Kelly strikes again. Now he's blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a CLASSIFIED Pentagon briefing he received. " Hegseth said the Pentagon would review whether Kelly disclosed classified information.

This would be the second time Hegseth has sought to punish Kelly; the defense secretary had previously moved to demote him, which would reduce his military pension.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard arguments days before May 11, 2026, regarding the Pentagon's earlier attempts to discipline Kelly. The court expressed skepticism over that effort during oral arguments last week.