- July 10, 2025
Pentagon Chief Didn’t Inform White House Before Halting Weapons Shipments To Ukraine: Report
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paused Ukraine weapons shipments without White House notice, surprising officials.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. (AP Image)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not notify the White House before authorizing a pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, CNN reported citing officials familiar with the matter. The decision, which temporarily halted the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles and artillery ammunition already en route to Ukraine, came as a surprise to senior national security officials across the government, the report claimed.
Pete Hegseth’s Decision Catches Officials Off Guard
Among those not informed ahead of time were US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio and US special envoy to Ukraine- both of whom learned of the pause from press reports, the report noted citing multiple sources. The move was the second time this year that Pete Hegseth has unilaterally halted military aid to Ukraine without broader coordination. A similar decision in February was quickly reversed, mirroring this week’s reversal after internal backlash.
Pentagon Says Move Was A Stockpile Review
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement, “Secretary Hegseth provided a framework for the President to evaluate military aid shipments and assess existing stockpiles,” and added that the effort was “coordinated across government.”
Donald Trump Ordered Review, Not A Halt
The pause reportedly originated from a review initiated by Pete Hegseth following a request from the US President to assess US weapons stockpiles during last month’s NATO summit. While Donald Trump asked for an assessment amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the report confirmed that he did not instruct Pete Hegseth to halt aid to Ukraine.
Pentagon officials later told congressional staffers the pause was due to concerns about depleting US stockpiles. However, multiple sources told the outlet that the Pentagon has not provided evidence of an urgent shortage or submitted formal requests to Congress for emergency replenishment funding.
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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