In a May 8 internal memo, which was obtained by The Washington Post, Shanahan lays out the criteria for when Pentagon officials may provide congressional offices or committees information they request about operational plans and orders. Some lawmakers are also concerned about whether Shanahan has allowed the military to be drawn too deeply into President Trump’s immigration agenda. The memo was shared widely inside the Pentagon but was sent to key lawmakers only after inquiries by The Post. The memo appears to have been inspired by concerns that lawmakers, who have security clearances, will not safeguard military plans. The guidelines represent a dramatic twist in a decades-long tug-of-war between the Pentagon and Congress over access to sensitive information.

Source: Washington Post May 22, 2019 09:00 UTC