Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel asked his staff for information about the relationship between the U.S. military and the National Football League amid multiple ongoing domestic violence scandals, CNN reported on Friday.
His request comes in the wake of allegations that have been brought against multiple players in the NFL. According to CNN, the Pentagon review coincided with a comment made by a senior Obama administration official who said the league needs to “get a handle on” the situation because NFL players often serve as role models.
A senior defense official told CNN that “the secretary wants to fully understand that relationship, in case he decides to make some changes to it.”
The military, according to CNN, has a longstanding and high-profile relationship with the NFL but recent allegations conflict with the military’s own zero-tolerance policy with regard to domestic abuse.
The military is a large supporter of the NFL with the Army alone spending around $10 million a year in advertising, according to CNN.
The network reported the White House is also keeping track of the scandal. A senior administration official told CNN that the situation is “deeply troubling.”
