One of President Donald Trump's most recent nominees to take a position in the Pentagon was presumably under the impression that he would experience a relatively normal hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee. Instead, he received an earful from both sides of the aisle.

According to the New York Post, Austin Dahmer, President Trump’s pick to be assistant secretary for strategy, plans and forces, was grilled by senators from both sides during the hearing as they attacked the Pentagon over communication issues and "growing secrecy."

Many members of Congress, even Republicans, have expressed frustrations with the Pentagon for not notifying Congress of various acts that they argue Congress should be notified about.

Several Pentagon decisions were brought up during the discussion, leaving Dahmer, who's not even in his position yet, to bear the brunt of it.

What's going on?

Chairman Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, kicked off the venting session by telling Dahmer that he had noticed an "unsettling trend" in the Pentagon's decision-making department.

"Members and staff of this committee have struggled to receive information from the policy office," Wicker said as the hearing kicked off.

"I’ve noticed an unsettling trend this year," Wicker added. "At times, the Pentagon officials have pursued policies that are not in accord with President Trump’s orders or seem uncoordinated within the administration."

The Post noted:

Lawmakers have been left in the dark about a string of controversial decisions — including at least one pause in Ukraine military aid, a review of the AUKUS submarine pact, canceled troop deployments and meetings with key allies.

“Members and staff of this committee have struggled to receive information from the policy office,” Wicker continued, “and have not been able to consult in a meaningful way with the shop, either on the National Defense Strategy or the Global Posture Review.”

Another Republican senator said it was more difficult to get answers from the Pentagon's policy department than it was getting them from War Secretary Pete Hegseth or President Donald Trump himself.

More issues

Wicker also brought up a recent and sudden change on an Army brigade's deployment to Romania, arguing that the move was not in line with the Trump administration's pledge to keep troops there.

“This decision did not appear to reflect the policy mandate of President Trump,” the Republican said. “Just two weeks ago, the president had said that troops would not be withdrawn from Europe.”

Dahmer was called upon to explain why his title had suddenly changed and why Congress wasn't notified of it.

It sounds as though Dahmer has his work cut out for him, and there's no doubt that Sec. Hegseth will let any of it stand.