Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the suspension of 11 military aid flights to Ukraine in February without informing President Trump or senior national security officials.
• The grounding followed a January 30 Oval Office meeting where Trump discussed pausing Ukraine aid, though no explicit directive was given, according to multiple sources.
• The White House claims Hegseth acted on Trump’s intent, but conflicting accounts raise questions about miscommunication and unclear chains of command.
• National Security Adviser Mike Waltz intervened to reverse the suspension within days, but the delay incurred $2.2 million in additional costs.
• The incident highlights ongoing leadership challenges at the Pentagon, including prior controversies over communication practices and decision-making protocols under Hegseth.