Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth halted shipments of Patriot interceptors, AIM-120 antiaircraft missiles, Hellfire rockets and other precision munitions on July 3 without notifying President Trump or senior White House staff.
• President Trump ordered the return of air defense and precision weapons to Ukraine, emphasizing the need to strengthen Kyiv’s defenses as Russia launched a record-setting drone and missile assault.
• Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell disputed reports of a communication breakdown, labeling suggestions that the White House was kept in the dark as “a complete fabrication.”
• Lawmakers and veteran organizations, including Rep. Ted Lieu and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have called for Hegseth’s resignation over his unilateral decisions and management style.
• Hegseth previously imposed unapproved pauses on Ukraine arms transfers in February and May, raising broader concerns about coordination failures and his lack of senior advisers.