Elbridge A. Colby, the Trump administration’s Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, has become the central figure in a battle to define the future of “America First” foreign policy, dividing top Republicans over his Pentagon strategy. According to The Washington Post, Colby has emerged as the intellectual standard-bearer for a GOP faction that prioritizes deterring China in the Indo-Pacific, even if that means scaling back commitments in Europe and the Middle East.
The divide reflects a fundamental ideological split within the Republican Party between traditional defense hawks and a growing wing of restraint-oriented Republicans. Colby’s approach has sparked months of friction with both Trump administration allies and Republican lawmakers who feel blindsided by his policy decisions.
Colby was confirmed to his post in April 2025 after a contentious Senate battle. Since then, he has led efforts to reshape U.S. military priorities through the 2026 National Defense Strategy, which emphasizes homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere alongside deterring China. However, prominent Republicans say his office has failed to consult Congress on major decisions, leaving lawmakers and allies in the dark.
Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, has been particularly vocal. “There really hasn’t been any consultation with the Congress” on the updated strategy, Wicker said at a recent hearing, according to Politico. “That’s really not the way it’s supposed to work.” Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska expressed similar frustration, telling Politico that Colby is “the hardest guy to get ahold of in the Trump administration” despite pledging to work closely with Congress.
The friction centers on specific Pentagon moves influenced by Colby’s strategy. These include withdrawing Army brigades from Romania, conducting a review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact with Australia and Britain, pausing some Ukraine assistance, and cutting aid to Baltic nations. Politico reported that Romania learned of the troop withdrawal decision only two days before it was announced, prompting NATO diplomats to call the rollout “an unwelcome surprise.”
Colby is the intellectual standard-bearer for what Politico describes as a GOP faction arguing that Washington must focus military power on deterring China, even if that means reducing traditional U.S. commitments abroad. He has spent years warning that over-investing in Ukraine weakens readiness in Asia. His critics—including many traditional defense hawks—argue this approach risks emboldening Russia and undermining longstanding U.S. alliances.
The Pentagon has pushed back against criticism, with press secretary Kingsley Wilson stating that Colby’s office is “as responsive and transparent as possible” and has held dozens of classified and unclassified briefings for lawmakers. Colby’s allies in Congress, including Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, dismiss the criticism as ideologically motivated. “The foreign policy view over the last 30 years is losing steam, and a lot of people know that,” Schmitt told Politico in November 2025. “That’s why I think that a lot of people will go after undersecretary Colby and others, because they understand that’s their view.”
The dispute has real consequences. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are considering four nominees to Colby’s policy shop and could stall their confirmations if tensions don’t ease. Pentagon policy legislation passed by both chambers also aims to restrict the administration from significantly reducing the U.S. military footprint in Europe without making a case that the move serves national security interests.
Despite the tensions, there are signs of attempted reconciliation. Sullivan said he had a “very constructive” meeting with Colby last week after publicly criticizing him, and senators have stressed they want him to put them “on speed dial” to rebuild confidence. The outcome will likely shape not only Pentagon strategy but also the trajectory of “America First” foreign policy within the Republican Party for years to come.
Sources
- The Washington Post — Reported that Colby has become the central figure in a battle to define the future of “America First” foreign policy (June 28, 2026).
- Politico — Detailed Republican criticism of Colby’s Pentagon decisions, including troop withdrawals, Ukraine aid pauses, and lack of congressional consultation (November 14, 2025).
- Reuters — Confirmed Colby’s confirmation to the Pentagon policy post and described him as a China hawk (April 8, 2025).
- The Atlantic — Reported that Colby wants the U.S. military to pivot toward Asia, even if it means turning away from Europe and the Middle East (July 28, 2025).
- USNI News — Covered Colby’s Senate testimony defending the National Defense Strategy’s “flexible realism” approach (March 3, 2026).
