Lawmakers in the U. S. are taking a stand. They want more details about military actions in Venezuela. They might cut travel funds for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if he doesn't share unedited videos of strikes on boats.
This is all part of a big defense bill. It's likely to pass soon. The bill includes a special condition. It says Hegseth can only use 75% of his travel budget until the Pentagon shares more information.
For weeks, members of Congress have been asking for more details. They want to know about the Trump administration's plans for Venezuela. Since September, the U. S. has been building up its naval presence near the country. They've also carried out at least 22 strikes on vessels in the region.
The Trump administration says these strikes are against "narcoterrorists. " They claim it will help stop illegal drugs from entering the U. S. But the strikes have killed 87 people. This has raised concerns about the legality of these actions.
Some legal experts say killing people without proof they were a threat might break international law. Concerns grew after it was revealed that the military fired multiple times on the first boat hit. This was on September 2. Survivors were killed instead of being rescued.
Hegseth defended this action in a recent speech. He also said he hasn't decided yet if he will release the full video of the incident. It's still under review.
The defense bill also requires the Pentagon to share unedited videos of strikes. These strikes are against designated terrorist organizations. They must be in the area controlled by the U. S. Southern Command. This includes waters around Venezuela.
Last week, Trump administration officials briefed lawmakers on the September 2 strikes. Some senior Democrats were troubled by the killing of survivors. But some Republicans defended the strikes as legal.
