Overview
- The Oct. 15 directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg requires Pentagon personnel to route any engagement with Congress or state officials through the assistant secretary for legislative affairs, covering base visits and responses to reports and letters.
- The inspector general is exempt, the comptroller remains the principal liaison on appropriations matters, and the general counsel’s authorities are unchanged, while servicemembers keep whistleblower protections and the right to seek help from lawmakers.
- The policy applies to senior leaders, the Joint Chiefs and Joint Staff, service secretaries and chiefs, combatant commanders, and agency heads, including activities outside the National Capital Region.
- The memo orders a 90-day review of congressional engagement processes and gives component heads 30 days to submit organizational charts, contacts, and tracking tools, with the legislative affairs post currently filled on an interim basis.
- A House Armed Services Committee member and congressional staffers cautioned the change could delay time-sensitive information needed for drafting the fiscal 2026 NDAA and appropriations.