Defense Bill Would Hold Back Hegseth Travel Funds Until Boat Video Is Released

A compromise version of the annual defense policy bill would withhold a quarter of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office travel funds until the Pentagon gives Congress unedited video of its strikes on alleged drug boats near Venezuela, CBS News and NBC News reported.

Lawmakers unveiled the bill Sunday. It authorizes nearly $901 billion in defense spending and runs 3,086 pages; the provision appears more than 800 pages in, CBS reported, noting Politico was first to report it. It would cut the travel funds to “not more than” 75 percent until the House and Senate Armed Services committees receive “unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations” in the area covered by U.S. Southern Command, according to the bill language quoted by NBC. CBS said the bill also requires overdue reports, including lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The measure has passed every year for more than six decades and is expected to pass with bipartisan support, CBS said, though NBC cautioned that it is unclear whether it would survive amendment votes.

The language follows the revelation that a Sept. 2 strike in the Caribbean was followed by a second missile that killed two survivors of the first attack. As reported Saturday, Hegseth said he would have made the same call and would not commit to releasing the footage. Two sources familiar with the video told CBS that the survivors were waving overhead before they were killed. Hegseth has said Adm. Frank Bradley ordered the second strike. NBC reported that Bradley told lawmakers that intelligence confirmed the 11 people on the boat were legitimate targets, and that an administration official said in a written statement that a uniformed judge advocate general gave counsel “every step of the way.”

President Donald Trump’s position shifted. Trump said last Wednesday of the footage, “whatever they have we’ll certainly release, no problem.” On Monday, asked about those remarks, Trump said, “I didn’t say that,” and added, “Whatever he decides is OK with me,” referring to Hegseth, NBC reported. CBS described this as walking back the promise. Only a 29-second snippet, posted to social media by Trump, has been public, CBS said.

On Tuesday afternoon Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were to brief congressional leaders and the top members of the intelligence committees, according to two sources cited by CBS.

The Pentagon has reported 22 known strikes on alleged drug boats since early September, killing at least 86 people, according to NBC; CBS counted at least 87. CBS said the administration argues the strikes are legally justified, and NBC said the administration has frequently said the vessels traveled known drug routes, without providing evidence. NBC called the provision the most recent example of Congress trying to use its oversight responsibilities on the strikes.