Congress Withholds 25% Of Pentagon Travel Funds Until Unedited Boat-Strike Videos Are Released

Congress has inserted language into the annual defense policy bill that would withhold 25% of the Pentagon travel budget until the Department of Defense turns over unedited video of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats operating in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

What the provision requires: The measure, quietly added to the final draft of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), conditions a portion of the travel funds for the Office of the Secretary of Defense on delivery of "unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations" to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The NDAA text also ties restoration of the withheld funds to the Pentagon delivering several overdue reports, including lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.

Why lawmakers inserted the clause: The provision follows heightened scrutiny of a controversial Sept. 2 follow-up strike that reportedly killed two survivors of an earlier attack. Critics — including some legal experts and lawmakers — have questioned whether that second strike may have violated the laws of armed conflict. The military operation, part of a broader anti-smuggling effort, has reportedly resulted in at least 87 deaths since September.

Officials, lawmakers and conflicting accounts: Senior Pentagon officials briefed top members of congressional national security committees and showed unedited footage last week. According to committee members, reactions were mixed: some Republicans who viewed the footage say it supports the administration’s account, while Democrats and other observers say it raises serious questions and urge wider public release for independent review.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (as named in the original reporting) has so far declined to commit to releasing the footage publicly, citing concerns about operational security and troop safety. President Donald Trump said he would have "no problem" releasing the video. Pentagon leaders have said an admiral in U.S. Special Operations Command made the final call on the follow-up strike.

Congressional response and next steps: Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has urged that rank-and-file committee members be allowed to view the footage. House Armed Services ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) called for a full-scale investigation — including review of written records up and down the chain of command and a public hearing where the defense secretary would be questioned about the operation.

"If they release the video, then everything that the Republicans are saying will clearly be portrayed to be completely false," Rep. Adam Smith said on ABC’s "This Week."

The NDAA language is likely to accelerate congressional oversight: the bill’s final draft was released by Congressional leaders on Sunday and is expected to be voted on by the House and then the Senate this week.

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