Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred Senator Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers Sunday, accusing the Arizona Democrat of leaking classified details about depleted US weapons stockpiles during public remarks.
Kelly fired back the same day, telling reporters that the figures he cited were not classified — and that Hegseth himself had quoted the same data in public statements.
The senator, a Navy combat veteran and former astronaut, said the move amounted to political retaliation and called on Hegseth to withdraw the referral.
The Pentagon did not identify which statute Kelly allegedly violated or confirm whether a formal investigation had been opened as of Sunday evening.
Hegseth's office has not responded to Kelly's counter-claim that the secretary quoted identical stockpile figures in an open forum.
The row arrives as Congress debates supplemental defense appropriations and the adequacy of US munitions reserves following transfers to Ukraine and other allies.
Kelly sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is scheduled to hold a Pentagon readiness hearing Thursday — a session where the dispute is now expected to surface directly.