Rep. Crow Says Congress Has Not Been Briefed on Hegseth Leak Investigation

Congress has learned about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's investigation into Pentagon leaks through public reports, not direct briefings, Democratic Rep. Jason Crow said Sunday.

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part of an effort to create fear and to clamp down on information coming out of the Pentagon

Crow, a senior member of the House Armed Services and House Intelligence committees, said lawmakers “haven't received any information” about the investigation. He described the probe as “part of an effort to create fear and to clamp down on information coming out of the Pentagon.”

The investigation focuses on how highly sensitive classified details about U.S. stockpiles of advanced weapons reached the media. Officials briefed on the probe told CBS News that some of the highest-ranking U.S. military personnel underwent polygraph tests after President Trump became angered by the leaks. Polygraph tests can be routine for top military officials, but testing such a large group is unusual.

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haven't received any information

Crow said stopping leaks and protecting classified information remains important, and that he would support those efforts. His concern, he said, was the wider environment Hegseth has created at the Defense Department. Crow said Hegseth had removed more than 80 generals and admirals since taking office under the current Trump administration, representing the top 10% of the military's chain of command. He also said the number of women being considered for military promotions had fallen to a 25-year low.

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Certainly, stopping leaks and protecting classified information is really important, and I would always support that

Crow said Hegseth had created “an environment of fear” and pushed out journalists and media organizations. He argued that withholding information from Congress reflected a broader administration pattern of limiting lawmakers' understanding of government activity. CBS News reported that not all senior military leaders were tested, and that the questions sought to identify who leaked information about U.S. munitions stockpiles. No one failed the tests. The investigation followed reports that some advanced munitions had been rapidly depleted several weeks into the Iran war, raising concerns about U.S. readiness.

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And he's created an environment of fear. He's pushed out journalists. He's pushed out media