Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized a pause on U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine last week without informing the White House, sparking confusion within the Trump administration and drawing sharp questions from Congress and Ukrainian officials, according to five sources familiar with the matter.
President Donald Trump, when asked during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday whether he approved the move, distanced himself. “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” he responded, later reiterating that the U.S. would continue supplying defensive weapons to Ukraine. By Monday night, the White House had reversed the pause, and the Pentagon announced shipments would resume.
This marked the second time this year that Hegseth halted arms deliveries to Kyiv without broader consultation, sources said. A similar incident in February was also quietly undone following internal backlash.
The recent pause disrupted a pre-approved shipment that included Patriot interceptor missiles, already staged in Poland, which Ukraine urgently needs to protect civilians from Russian air attacks. Trump, upon learning of the suspension, directed Hegseth to resume at least some of the deliveries. In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Trump reportedly downplayed his role in the interruption.
The Defense Department later said Hegseth had initiated a review to assess U.S. weapons stockpiles and ensure alignment with national security priorities. However, sources told CNN that Trump had not ordered a halt, only an evaluation, during last month’s NATO summit, where growing concerns about potential conflicts in the Middle East prompted him to inquire about U.S. readiness.
The pause itself originated from Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, a known skeptic of extensive U.S. aid to Ukraine. Colby advised Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg, who endorsed the move. Hegseth ultimately signed off, reportedly believing the decision matched Trump’s “America First” stance.
Notably, senior officials, including U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Ret. Gen. Keith Kellogg and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were not informed of the decision in advance and only learned of it from media reports. Congressional leaders were also caught off guard and have since pressed the Pentagon for justification. So far, the Defense Department has not presented evidence of any imminent munitions shortages requiring urgent action.
A source familiar with the issue said, “Congress would be glad to work with DoD if credible evidence was presented that the Pentagon stockpiles were critically short… but there have been no new urgent requirements submitted.”
Trump, who appears to have grown frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to engage in peace talks, said Tuesday, “We get a lot of bulls**t thrown at us by Putin… it turns out to be meaningless.” This shift may have influenced his decision to restart the arms shipments.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president remains committed to helping Ukraine defend itself and “has full confidence in the Secretary of Defense,” despite the evident miscommunication.
Critics say the episode underscores the chaotic nature of defense policy under Hegseth, who reportedly lacks a chief of staff or close advisers to ensure coordination with other parts of the government.
Written By Rodney Mbua
