US lawmakers are trying to pressure the Trump administration to release video of a controversial double-tap military strike by limiting Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel budget. The incident on 2 September, in which the US carried out a second deadly strike on a boat in the Caribbean, has raised fresh questions about the legality of Trump's campaign targeting alleged drug-carrying vessels.
A provision buried in a lengthy defence spending policy would restrict travel funds for Hegseth's office until the Pentagon hands over unedited footage. The bill is expected to pass with support from both parties.
US President Donald Trump says release of the video is something for Hegseth to decide. Trump denied that he had previously said he would have no problem with the footage being made public - despite that comment being made on camera as recently as Wednesday.
The threat from Congress to withhold money from Hegseth's travel budget has emerged amid a clamour for information from lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle. It is buried within a 3,000-page draft bill that is focused on approving next year's defence spending. The annual bill authorises nearly $901bn in funding (£687m).
The bill's final wording, which was first reported by Politico, states that Hegseth's office may spend no more than three-quarters of the funds made available for travel for the year 2026 until it meets certain requirements.
These include an obligation to give the House and Senate armed service committees all unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations in the area of responsibility of the United States Southern Command.
In his comments to reporters on Monday, Trump said each of the alleged drug boats that had been sunk had saved 25,000 American lives, claiming that drug trafficking to the US by sea had stopped. The administration has sought to justify its actions by stating it is in a non-international armed conflict with drug traffickers. However, experts question the legality of the strikes, citing obligations to assist those injured rather than strike again, as occurred in the two subsequent strikes.
The final determination on the release of the video rests with Hegseth, who has indicated that the process is under review. The pressure from lawmakers continues to grow as clarity regarding the legal and ethical implications of these military actions remains elusive.
