Some Democrats are accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of curtailing Congress’ oversight role with his recent order instructing the Defense Department personnel to coordinate all interactions with Capitol Hill through the building’s central legislative affairs office.

Hegseth and his deputy, Steve Feinberg, said in an Oct. 15 memo that DOD officials have to get permission from the department’s main legislative affairs office before communicating with lawmakers or congressional aides, a policy that lawmakers fear will curb the flow of information from the Pentagon to Capitol Hill.

“Unauthorized engagements with Congress by [Defense Department] personnel acting in their official capacity, no matter how well-intentioned, may undermine Department-wide priorities critical to achieving our

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