Defense Undersecretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's third-ranking official, gave the Senate Armed Services Committee a classified briefing on September 17, 2026 that the annual defense authorization act required him to deliver by September 15. Senators from both parties came out saying he had not delivered it.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said there “were a lot more questions than answers,” and called it “very peculiar” and “weird” that Colby arrived for a congressionally mandated update without a prepared statement. He described the performance as “very disrespectful to say the least” and a “dodge and punt.” Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said she was “very disappointed” and left early: “I did not stay to ask questions because he was not giving any clear responses.” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said, “It was not what we had expected... They owe us a report, and we did not get the report.”
Democrats said the same. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said that “like a lot of the briefs we get from this administration, we walk out with more questions than we had when we went in.” Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) said Colby “was not forthcoming” and “did not really address our concerns or issues.”
The most consequential exchange was about the election. Asked directly whether he had ever had discussions about deploying the National Guard for voter security on Election Day, Colby said he had heard about such discussions taking place but was not leading on the issue. In Cramer's account, he “never once said 'yes' or 'no.'”
The precision matters: Colby did not say troops would be sent to polling places, and the administration has an answer on paper. Gen. Dan Caine wrote to Sen. Elissa Slotkin last month that there are “no plans to send Federal military personnel or Federalized members of the National Guard to polling places during the 2026 elections.” What Colby declined to do was repeat that assurance under questioning, while confirming discussions existed.
Kelly said he was able to ask about the war strategy and about the decisions that left the country with what he called a “munitions deficit”; experts estimate about three years to replenish stockpiles of some advanced interceptors.
One Republican dissented from the criticism. Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) said Colby “was very detailed and constructive” and “didn't hide from any question, he answered every question with substance,” adding that Democrats “are going to politicize these hearings no matter what.” Committee chair Roger Wicker declined to answer questions, saying only, “You understand.” Ranking member Jack Reed also declined to comment.