War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office has issued new restrictions requiring War Department officials to obtain prior approval before discussing a wide range of topics with Congress, including “sensitive military operations.”
The guidance follows an earlier memo from Hegseth that prohibited War Department officials, including military commanders, from speaking with members of Congress or state lawmakers without authorization from the Office of Legislative Affairs.
The updated list of subjects now requiring prior coordination includes Department of War (DoW) sensitive military operations, maritime activities in the Southern Command area of responsibility—including enhanced counternarcotics operations—Golden Dome/Homeland Missile Defense, acquisition reform, critical munitions, and the National Defense Strategy.
Other covered areas include budget and reconciliation spending plans, critical minerals, Foreign Military Sales reform, the AUKUS defense partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom, anomalous health incidents known as “Havana Syndrome.”
Separately, the White House implemented new rules Friday limiting journalists’ access to press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s office and nearby communications areas. The National Security Council said reporters may no longer enter “Upper Press” without an appointment, citing the need to safeguard sensitive material handled by West Wing staff.
