Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) says the Pentagon blocked his access to a key U.S. military installation in Qatar, alleging officials sought to limit congressional scrutiny of damage from Iranian attacks.
Murphy, also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was denied entry to Al Udeid Air Base during a Middle East trip with a congressional delegation. He said the trip was intended to inspect potential damage at U.S. facilities and evaluate the conflict’s effect on regional partnerships.
“Something unprecedented happened during my visit to the Gulf. For the first time in 20 years in Congress, I was denied entry to U.S. military facilities and even meetings with military leaders,” Murphy wrote on X.
According to Murphy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an order that applies to both parties in a bid to “hide the cost of the war.”
In another post, the Senator stated that the State Department is supporting trips to the region and credited Secretary Marco Rubio for honoring congressional oversight rather than following Hegseth’s approach.
A senior Pentagon official told the Hill that Murphy’s office had been told before the trip that Defense Department support for an Al Udeid visit would not be available, citing Hegseth’s March travel directive.
Pentagon did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
Murphy Raises Cost Concerns Over Iran
The dispute follows Murphy’s earlier warnings about the financial stakes of confronting Iran. Earlier this year, he said a potential war with Iran could cost more than extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. He questioned whether Americans would favor war over lower healthcare costs, suggesting overwhelming opposition to conflict.
By April, Murphy argued that inflation in gasoline and grocery prices would make it difficult for President Donald Trump to portray the conflict as a success, warning that “the war has been a disaster.”
In September, the Pentagon told Congress the U.S. war with Iran has cost $45.1 billion, including $43.6 billion through September 3 and $1.5 billion in additional fuel costs, reported CNN. The estimate excluded base repairs and other indirect military costs. The Pentagon now estimates the war will cost $45.1 billion, exceeding the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) $38 billion estimate through Aug. 1 and its own $37.5 billion July estimate.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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