Pentagon Targets Senator Kelly in Escalating Dispute Over Depleted Military Stockpiles

2026-05-11 politics

Washington, Monday, 11 May 2026.
Defense Secretary Hegseth is investigating Senator Kelly for revealing depleted munitions levels, though Kelly argues Hegseth publicly disclosed this allegedly classified information days prior.

Clash Over Military Spending

The dispute began when Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, publicly criticized the Trump administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, deeming it “outrageous” [1][2]. Kelly voiced concerns about the depletion of U.S. munitions amidst the ongoing war with Iran [2]. The administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year 2027, released in April 2026, includes a 42% increase in defense spending compared to 2026 levels [2]. Kelly noted that the defense budget was just over $700 billion when he joined the Senate five and a half years ago [2].

Hegseth’s Accusations and Kelly’s Response

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Kelly’s criticism on May 10, 2026, accusing him of divulging classified information from a Pentagon briefing [2][4]. Hegseth stated on social media that Kelly was “blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a CLASSIFIED Pentagon briefing he received,” and indicated that the Defense Department’s legal counsel would investigate whether Kelly violated his oath [2][3]. In response, Kelly pointed out that he and his colleagues received “pretty detailed” briefings from the War Department about missile stockpiles, including Tomahawks, ATACMS, SM-3s, THAAD rounds, and Patriot rounds [3]. Kelly countered Hegseth’s accusations by referencing Hegseth’s own prior statements before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 30, 2026, where Hegseth admitted that the U.S. had “fired years worth of munitions” during the war [3]. Kelly argued that his comments were based on information Hegseth himself had publicly shared [1][3].

Stockpile Depletion and Safety Concerns

Kelly has expressed concern over the depletion of U.S. weapon stockpiles, stating that the U.S. has depleted munitions due to President Trump’s actions “without a strategic goal, without a plan, without a timeline,” potentially impacting American safety in conflicts with China or elsewhere [2]. He remarked that it was “shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines because this president got our country into this without a strategic goal, without a plan, without a timeline” [3]. CNN reported on April 21, 2026, that the U.S. military has significantly depleted its stockpile of key missiles, creating a “near-term risk” of running out of ammunition [1]. By that date, the U.S. military had expended at least 45% of its Precision Strike Missiles, at least half of its THAAD missiles, and nearly 50% of its Patriot air defense interceptor missiles [1].

Ongoing Feud and Legal Battles

This is not the first conflict between Hegseth and Kelly [3][7]. In November 2025, Kelly participated in a video with five Democratic colleagues urging service members to refuse “illegal orders,” which President Trump denounced as “seditious behavior” [3][4]. Subsequently, Hegseth initiated administrative action against Kelly, potentially reducing his rank and issuing a letter of censure [1][4]. In January 2026, Kelly sued Hegseth over these actions [1]. A federal appeals court appeared ready on May 7, 2026, to reject Hegseth’s effort to punish Kelly over the November 2025 video [1]. On May 3, 2026, the DC US Circuit Court of Appeals panel questioned the Justice Department’s arguments to revive Hegseth’s plans, which were shut down by a federal judge on February 12, 2026 [1].

Sources

Defense spending Pentagon