On Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly over comments he made regarding U.S. weapon stockpiles. This marks the second instance where Hegseth has prompted scrutiny of the Democratic senator.
During an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Kelly expressed concern about depleting weapon reserves amidst the ongoing war with Iran. Hegseth criticized Kelly, claiming he was discussing classified information publicly.
“Did he violate his oath… again? The legal team at the Department of War will review,” Hegseth posted on social media.
Kelly, who has served in the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, highlighted the seriousness of the situation. He stated, “We’ve exhausted many munitions. This depletion means less safety for Americans. Whether it’s the conflict with China or elsewhere, our stockpiles are running low.”
In response to Hegseth’s comments, Kelly reminded him that they had already discussed these issues in a public hearing. He noted, “You said it would take years to replenish some of these stockpiles. That’s not classified; it’s your own quote.” He emphasized that “the war is coming at a serious cost.”
This escalating clash comes just days after a federal appeals court seemed disinclined to support Hegseth’s earlier attempts to penalize Kelly. In a past video, Kelly and five fellow Democrats, all with military backgrounds, urged U.S. service members to resist unlawful orders. This drew sharp reactions from both Hegseth and former President Trump.
Interestingly, Kelly has taken legal action against Hegseth after the Defense Secretary signaled plans for administrative measures, including potentially downgrading Kelly’s military rank, impacting his retirement pay.
Recent court discussions hinted that a majority of judges were skeptical about the Justice Department’s arguments favoring Hegseth’s desired actions against Kelly, which had been deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge previously.
Kelly’s remarks on the state of U.S. weapon stockpiles come at a critical time. Over the past two months, it has been reported that the U.S. military’s stock of key missiles has significantly decreased due to the ongoing conflict. Experts have indicated that this poses a “near-term risk” of running out of ammunition in future conflicts.
According to a recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, as of April 21, the U.S. military had used up at least 45% of its Precision Strike Missiles and about half of its THAAD missiles. It also reported that nearly 50% of its Patriot air defense interceptor missiles were expended. These figures align with internal Pentagon assessments.
As these discussions unfold, public reactions reveal growing concern about the impact on national security, with many users on social media expressing anxiety over military readiness.
