This was unexpected.
ACLU Targets Trump Administration Over Military Strike Memo
President Donald Trump is facing a new legal battle as left-wing activist groups escalate their efforts to challenge his national-security decisions. The American Civil Liberties Union, its foundation, and the Center for Constitutional Rights have filed a lawsuit demanding the immediate release of a classified memo tied to U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats.
The lawsuit names the Department of Justice, the State Department, and the newly renamed Department of War as defendants—clearly signaling a coordinated effort to force the administration to reveal sensitive military strategy.
Activist Groups Demand Internal Documents Through FOIA
According to the ACLU, the organizations filed identical Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in October seeking a legal opinion authored by the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel. That opinion allegedly outlines the military’s authority to stop cartel-linked drug boats that have been flooding the Caribbean and threatening U.S. security.
The groups complain they have not yet received the records and now argue that the public is being denied “critical information.” Critics say this is just the latest example of activist organizations using FOIA lawsuits to undermine President Trump’s national-security measures.
Background: First Publicly Acknowledged Strike on Drug Boat
The controversy began after a Sept. 2 military operation in which U.S. forces conducted the first publicly recognized strike against a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean Sea. A second missile fired at the vessel killed two survivors—an action the ACLU claims violated international law.
However, War Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that the intelligence for the strike took “almost a month” to develop. He explained that military assets had to be reoriented from halfway across the world to protect American interests closer to home.
Trump Defends the Military Strike as Necessary for National Security
President Trump stood firmly behind the military’s actions, noting that the surviving smugglers were attempting to “return the boat back to where it could float.” He initially said he saw “no problem” releasing the footage before later stating that the decision would ultimately fall to Hegseth, ensuring operational security remained intact.
Administration officials maintain the strike was completely lawful and essential to disrupting dangerous drug-smuggling networks that fund violent cartels operating near the United States.
ACLU Claims Strike Was Illegal Despite Threat From Cartel Smugglers
Despite the clear national-security concerns, the ACLU argues that the U.S. military “may not summarily kill civilians” suspected of trafficking drugs. The organization insists that “non-lethal measures” should have been used—even in high-risk, fast-moving maritime confrontations where hesitation could cost American lives.
In their lawsuit, the groups demand that the court force the administration to conduct an “adequate and thorough search” for all related documents and immediately release them to the public.
A New Round of Legal Attacks on Trump’s National-Security Agenda
This lawsuit marks yet another challenge from activist organizations attempting to undermine the Trump administration’s strong stance against drug cartels, illegal trafficking, and threats to American sovereignty. Supporters say President Trump is doing exactly what he promised—putting American safety first—even as left-wing groups try to tie up the administration in court.
