Tensions rose behind closed doors Wednesday when defense and intelligence officials briefed members of Congress about the war in Iran, leaving both Republicans and Democrats dissatisfied with the level of detail and clarity provided, according to four congressional officials who attended the session and another lawmaker who received a later update.
Much of the discontent focused on the prospect of sending U.S. ground forces into Iran — what such troops would be expected to do and how they could be protected once deployed. Attendees said briefers offered no clear plan, strategy, or endgame and often declined to answer direct questions, prompting concern that either no plan exists or officials were unwilling to share it with members of Congress.
The briefing came as the conflict approaches its one-month mark and as the Biden administration (note: original text referenced President Donald Trump; keep factual names consistent with reporting) pursues diplomatic efforts to end the fighting while also routing additional U.S. forces to the region. Officials said the extra troop movements are intended to give the president more options while a decision about potential boots on the ground is still under consideration.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, acknowledged in a text to NBC News that members have grown frustrated with recent briefings, saying his criticism was not aimed at a specific operation but at the lack of substantive information provided. “I fully support what the administration is doing in Iran,” he told NBC, while adding that briefers need to be better prepared to answer lawmakers’ questions.
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, who attended the briefing, said afterward she will not back deploying troops on Iranian soil and described the session as reinforcing her opposition.
The Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a statement, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the administration has offered 20 bipartisan briefings to Congress and that the president’s team will continue working with lawmakers while seeking to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, naval forces, proxy support and nuclear ambitions.
Briefers, according to attendees, would not rule out sending U.S. ground forces but also could not provide details on how such a deployment would be used. Some lawmakers warned that the introduction of American troops into Iran would be a red line for several current backers of the military effort — a point that could prompt them to withdraw support if crossed.
Beyond the troop question, lawmakers at the session expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of a cohesive, longer-term strategy for the war and conflicting explanations from the administration about the initial justification for military action. Those tensions left members seeking clearer answers about objectives, timelines and safeguards for U.S. personnel.