Senate Budget Committee Democrats, led by Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), have called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to explain the Department of Defense’s (DOD) decision to fully classify its budget reconciliation spending plan. The classified plan covers $90 billion out of the $150 billion appropriated for national security following the passage of a Republican-backed reconciliation bill in July. Congress has not yet received a spending plan for the remaining $60 billion.
The senators stated, “The Department has offered no explanation for why the spend plan was classified, even though some items included in H.R. 1, such as barracks improvements or personnel benefit increases, are not sensitive. It strains credulity that all the items in the $90 billion classified spend plan are sensitive enough to warrant complete classification. In prior years, only intelligence or specific sensitive programs required classified spend plans, while other defense budget materials were provided in unclassified form or with classified appendices as appropriate. The current approach deviates sharply from long-standing practice and raises serious questions about DOD’s rationale.”
They continued, “This decision also comes amid broader transparency concerns. The Pentagon has adopted new restrictions on communication with Congress and the press, further limiting oversight and undermining public accountability. Combined with the unprecedented classification of the reconciliation spend plan, these steps raise doubts about whether Congress is receiving the information necessary to fulfill its constitutional oversight responsibilities.”
Other Democratic members who joined Merkley include Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
According to recent communications between Merkley and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), there are ongoing concerns regarding federal spending related to defense initiatives under the Trump Administration. CBO informed Merkley that efforts to rename the DOD could cost up to $125 million if carried out by executive order without congressional approval; this would remain an unofficial designation unless Congress passes legislation. Additionally, CBO reported that deploying National Guard personnel to cities like Portland has already cost taxpayers approximately $589 million and may reach an additional $1 billion within a year if current deployment plans continue.
The letter from Senate Democrats emphasizes that during previous military engagements such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, defense appropriation spend plans were not fully classified—even at times of heightened security concerns.
Senate Budget Committee members requested answers from Secretary Hegseth by February 20, 2026. They stressed: “Congress cannot forfeit its constitutional role in overseeing the defense budget. Transparency is not optional; it is the foundation of accountability. We strongly urge the Department to reconsider this approach and provide Congress with comprehensive, appropriately marked spending plans without delay.”
