Quill Lawrence

military's centuries of apolitical tradition.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

In a memo obtained by NPR, Hegseth instructs all defense staff, with the exception of inspectors general, to get permission before sharing information with congressional offices.

The memo says unauthorized engagements with Congress, no matter how well-intentioned, may undermine department-wide priorities.

But that may be hard to implement since lawmakers from both parties request information from military officials about everything from the National Guard to nuclear weapons hundreds of times each day, according to a congressional aide who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The aide said this memo fits an alarming trend by the Pentagon to clamp down on public scrutiny and congressional oversight.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Admiral Alvin Halsey would retire after 37 years in the military.

But it's almost unheard of for an officer not to finish the full three years of a command like this, especially in the middle of a military buildup.

Thousands of U.S.

troops have moved into position off the Venezuelan coast, and the U.S.

has destroyed several vessels the White House claims were carrying narcotics.

Critics say those strikes amount to execution without trial.

A U.S.

official told NPR that Halsey recently met with Hegseth at the Pentagon to express his concerns about these strikes and that his resignation was announced by Hegseth shortly after.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Admiral Alvin Halsey is leaving after an unusually short tenure in charge of SOUTHCOM.

On social media, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Halsey would retire after 37 years in the military and praised what he called the admiral's unwavering commitment to mission, people and nation.

This comes as thousands of U.S.

troops are deployed on ships near Venezuela, where the Trump administration has ordered a string of lethal strikes on small boats.