Pentagon officials have confirmed that discussions are underway about possibly using the National Guard to secure polling stations during the November midterm elections. This comes amid growing tensions between the Pentagon and Congress over how information about U.S. military priorities is shared. Lawmakers from both major political parties have voiced concerns about the lack of transparency and clarity from top defense officials. During a classified meeting, Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy adviser, did not provide the expected update on the Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy. Lawmakers left the session with more questions than answers, as Colby avoided addressing concerns about how the strategy is being implemented, the ongoing situation with Iran, and potential plans to station troops at polling places. Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Colby "was not forthcoming" and "did not really address our concerns." North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, also on the committee, called the session a way to "dodge and punt," noting it was "very peculiar" for someone to appear for a required update without offering any clear statement. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon is required to provide a classified update on the strategy to the Senate Armed Services Committee by September 15. South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said the briefing "was not what we had expected" and noted that the department "owes us a report, and we did not get the report." Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly raised concerns about the strategy in Iran and the decision-making that led to a "munitions deficit," a shortage of advanced military equipment. Experts estimate it could take about three years for defense contractors to replenish depleted supplies of items like defensive missile interceptors. Colby was directly asked if he had been involved in discussions about deploying National Guard troops for Election Day security. He said he was aware of the conversations but was not leading them. Cramer noted that Colby "never once said ‘yes’ or ‘no.’" The idea of military involvement at polling stations has drawn close attention as the midterms approach. Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin recently asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for explicit assurances that troops would not be sent to polling places. In a written response, Caine stated there are "no plans" to deploy military personnel or National Guard members to polling sites for the 2026 elections. Not all lawmakers were critical of the briefing. Indiana Republican Sen. Jim Banks called the session "constructive and substantive," saying it "answered all my questions." Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to provide details about the classified discussion, saying, "You understand."