Pentagon limits classified access amid Iran war concerns - report

The Pentagon has restricted access to decades of classified military documents on an internal computer system, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, days after the newspaper reported that senior US commanders had raised concerns about sustaining large-scale military operations against Iran.

Documents associated with the Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB) were removed from an internal web portal on the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet), according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Washington Post on condition of anonymity.

It was not immediately clear whether the documents remained available to US personnel through other means or how the reduction in access could affect military planning, according to the report.

SIPRNet contains information classified as "secret," while top-secret information is held on more highly classified networks with fewer people granted access.

US military leaders raised concerns over Iran operations

The SDOB contains information on the location and availability of US warships, military units, weapons systems, and other resources. It also allows senior military leaders to formally register reservations about orders while continuing to carry them out through a process known as "non-concurring," The Washington Post reported.

The Jerusalem Post previously reported, citing the Washington Post, that several senior US military leaders raised concerns in the classified August 14 edition of the SDOB about continuing operations against Iran.

The officials warned that prolonging the war could weaken the US military's ability to respond to threats elsewhere. The SDOB reportedly called for some US troops deployed in the Middle East to remain in the region through September, while others would remain until 2027.

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, head of US European Command; Gen. Francis Donovan, head of US Southern Command; Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of US Pacific Command; and Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, were among those who registered reservations with a "non-concur," according to people familiar with the discussion who spoke to the Washington Post.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach and acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve agreed with Hegseth's plan to extend some unit deployments but emphasized that doing so would carry significant risks, according to the report.

Pentagon declines to discuss access change

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to discuss the reported change with the Washington Post on Wednesday but did not dispute that it had occurred.

"As we have previously stated, the Department of War does not publicly discuss internal operational deliberative processes, including the management, handling, or access protocols for the Secretary of War Orders Book (SWOB)," Parnell said in a statement to the newspaper.

"The success of our service members is Secretary Hegseth's top priority, and for that reason, decisions regarding operational processes, force posture, and deliberative staffing are managed through appropriate security channels to ensure mission security and operational integrity," he added.

Following the Washington Post's Sunday report, Parnell said on social media that much of what the newspaper published was "inaccurate," though he did not specify which details he disputed.

"Non-concurs are standard," Parnell said. "The Secretary sees them constantly. That's how you run a real military. We are in great shape around the world."

Restricted access could complicate military planning

A former defense official who routinely reviewed the documents told the Washington Post that removing the SDOB from SIPRNet or moving it to systems with higher levels of classification would "dramatically reduce the number of people who have direct access to it."

Commanders and their staff rely on access to the SDOB for time-sensitive decisions and notifications, the former official told the newspaper.

Moving aircraft and weapons from one command to another, for example, requires urgent logistical work to redirect equipment and resources. Restricting access to the relevant information could make that process slower and more difficult, according to the former official.

The change does not make it impossible for personnel to access strategic and operational documents, but doing so is now "certainly more difficult," the former official said.