US Senator Chris Murphy says Pentagon denied him access to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar

US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the Pentagon denied him access to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar during a Middle East trip, calling it part of an effort to hide the Iran war's costs. The Pentagon cited a March 2026 directive restricting travel. Murphy met with Qatari and Saudi leaders, and contrasted the Pentagon's stance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's facilitation of his visit.