Lawmakers grill top Pentagon policy official on how Iran war fits national security strategy

Published March 3, 2026 5:29pm ET



Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers grilled Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defense for policy, about how the ongoing war with Iran fits into the administration’s broader national security strategy.

Colby’s appearance in front of the Armed Services Committee on Tuesday morning made him the first Pentagon official to appear in front of Congress since the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran. His testimony was scheduled before the conflict broke out, and he was there to answer questions about the administration’s national defense strategy.

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