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Hegseth To Brief 'Gang Of Eight' Lawmakers Amid Rising U.S.–Venezuela Tensions

Reuters
03:45 PM, 12/09/2025
Hegseth To Brief 'Gang Of Eight' Lawmakers Amid Rising U.S.–Venezuela Tensions

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is slated to brief the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" lawmakers on Tuesday, with Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine named as a possible participant. Sources speaking anonymously confirmed the planned briefing but provided no details on its subject. The announcement arrives amid rising U.S.–Venezuela tensions, including threats of land strikes, a months-long campaign against alleged drug boats, and a U.S. naval buildup in the Caribbean.

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine are expected to brief the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" lawmakers on Tuesday, a source familiar with the plan said.

The "Gang of Eight" comprises the congressional leaders of the intelligence committees along with the top Senate and House leaders from both parties; they are routinely briefed on major national security matters.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public, did not disclose the subject of the potential briefing. A separate U.S. official, also speaking anonymously, confirmed that Hegseth would address the group but declined to say whether Caine would participate.

Context

The disclosure comes as tensions between the United States and Venezuela have risen. President Donald Trump has publicly threatened land strikes against individuals he says are Venezuelan drug traffickers, following a more than three-month U.S. military campaign targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.

U.S. forces have also staged a notable buildup of warships in the Caribbean. Officials did not release further details about the timing or content of the scheduled briefing.

Reporting by Phil Stewart; Writing by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Leslie Adler.

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