Rep. Mike Turner said that Congress is still not receiving enough information from the Trump administration about the war in Iran, even as President Donald Trump signals a potential agreement with Tehran might be within reach.
Information about the war with Iran
Turner, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and previously chaired the House Intelligence Committee, said lawmakers remain frustrated by the level of intelligence and defense briefings they have received on the conflict and other national security matters.
Appearing on Face the Nation, Turner was asked whether he was satisfied with the information Congress has received from the Trump administration after months of complaints from lawmakers.
“The administration could be sharing more with Congress,” Turner said. “I don’t think anybody is satisfied with the level of information we’re receiving, although it is a dynamic conflict. … Both the House and the Senate have registered that the Pentagon needs to be sharing more information with Congress.”
The comments are notable because Turner has consistently backed the Trump administration’s broader approach toward Iran and is widely regarded as one of the Republican Party’s leading national security hawks.
Mike Turner defends Donald Trump
Despite his concerns over transparency, Turner defended Trump’s strategy and dismissed suggestions that the president is pursuing an unfavorable agreement with Iran in an effort to end a politically difficult conflict.
“I don’t think it’s cutting a flawed deal,” Turner said, arguing that Iran has suffered significant economic and military setbacks and will ultimately be forced to make concessions on its nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.
Turner emphasized that his criticism centers on congressional oversight rather than the Trump administration’s overall objectives.
Lawmakers from both parties have repeatedly expressed frustration over the amount of information being shared by the Pentagon and other Trump administration officials. Earlier this year, members of the House Armed Services Committee complained they were not receiving sufficient detail about U.S. military operations and strategic goals in Iran.
Congress continues to seek additional details
In March, Turner publicly pressed Pentagon officials during a committee hearing, saying Congress needed greater insight into the White House’s decision-making. He renewed those concerns in May, telling a national security conference that “no one is satisfied with the level of information” being provided to lawmakers about military strategy and ongoing operations.
Turner said that Congress continues to seek additional details not only about Iran but also about Ukraine and broader U.S. defense policy.
His remarks come amid growing signs of Republican concern over the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict. In July, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had “lost my confidence,” citing concerns over Pentagon leadership and management as scrutiny intensifies over the duration and cost of the war. Trump defended Hegseth at the time, saying the defense secretary had done “a great job.”
