Congress Holding Travel Funds
Congress is taking a hard line on Pentagon transparency, moving to withhold 25% of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until military leaders release full, unedited footage of U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats operating off the coast of Latin America.
The move, first reported by Politico, adds new accountability requirements to the annual national defense policy bill.
Lawmakers Demand Unedited Footage of Anti-Cartel Operations
The final version of the defense bill—which is expected to pass the House and Senate without major changes—requires the Pentagon to deliver “unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations” within U.S. Southern Command’s jurisdiction.
Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees would receive the footage directly, ensuring Congress—not the Pentagon—controls the flow of information.
Why Congress Is Turning Up the Heat
The dispute comes as the Trump administration dramatically expands maritime interdiction missions across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Defense officials say cartel-linked high-speed boats and semi-submersible craft have surged, turning the region into a major trafficking corridor for cocaine and synthetic drug precursors headed toward American communities.
Military leaders argue these fast-moving vessels have become increasingly militarized, forcing the U.S. to escalate operations to protect American lives and secure the Southern border.
Critics Claim the Pentagon Is Stretching Its Authority
Despite strong support from national security advocates, the stepped-up operations are drawing criticism from some Latin American governments and left-leaning analysts in Washington.
They accuse the United States of using counter-narcotics operations as a pretext for expanding military influence in a region rich with:
- strategic shipping routes
- offshore energy reserves
- chokepoints near Venezuela
Human-rights groups argue the mission has evolved into a low-visibility conflict with minimal public oversight, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Top Military Officials Brief Congress Behind Closed Doors
Over the weekend, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine and Navy Adm. Frank Bradley delivered a classified briefing to key members of Congress, offering a rare look at the unedited strike footage.
But even after reviewing the videos, lawmakers were divided:
- Republicans said the footage fully supports the administration’s actions, confirming that the targets were legitimate narco-terrorist threats.
- Democrats demanded the Pentagon make the videos public, suggesting the administration has not been fully forthcoming.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he wants every committee member—not just leadership—to review the footage.
Military Casualties Mount as Debate Intensifies
Since September, U.S. forces have eliminated at least 87 individuals linked to cartel-run smuggling operations. The administration insists these individuals were narco-terrorists bringing deadly drugs into American communities, warranting decisive action.
However, some legal scholars say the Pentagon is operating on legally uncertain ground, warning that future challenges could complicate ongoing operations.
