Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly’s US weapons stockpile remarks

Senator Mark Kelly disclosed on CBS News that U.S. weapons stockpiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot missiles, have been severely depleted during the Iran conflict, warning replenishment could take years. Pete Hegseth, a Pentagon official, accused Kelly of revealing classified information and referred the matter to Pentagon lawyers for review, while Kelly countered that the details came from an unclassified Senate hearing with Hegseth in April." "article": "Senator Mark Kelly disclosed on CBS’s *Face the Nation* that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Army Tactical Missile Systems, SM-3 interceptors, THAAD rounds, and Patriot missiles have been significantly reduced due to the conflict in Iran. Kelly warned that replenishing these supplies could take years, leaving the U.S. vulnerable in potential future conflicts, including with China. Pete Hegseth, a senior Pentagon official, responded by accusing Kelly of divulging classified information from a Pentagon briefing and referred the matter to the department’s legal counsel. Hegseth posted on X that Kelly’s remarks violated his oath and questioned whether this was another instance of misconduct. Kelly denied the claims, stating the information was not from a classified briefing but rather from Hegseth’s own public remarks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 30. During the hearing, Kelly asked Hegseth how long it would take to replenish munitions depleted by the Iran conflict, to which Hegseth replied, ‘Months and years. Fast.’ The dispute between the two escalated after Kelly joined five other lawmakers last fall in a video urging military personnel to refuse unlawful orders. Hegseth formally censured Kelly, sought to strip his retired military rank, and opened a Pentagon investigation. A federal court temporarily blocked these actions, ruling the Pentagon likely violated Kelly’s First Amendment rights. Hegseth appealed, and a three-judge panel recently heard arguments, showing little support for the government’s position. The conflict traces back to former President Donald Trump, who labeled the six lawmakers as traitors and suggested they should face execution. Days later, Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA officer, received a bomb threat urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders. The Department of Justice also launched a criminal investigation into the video, with a grand jury reportedly involved.