Rep. Pat Ryan pressed for answers after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth overturned suspensions for two Army pilots who hovered Apaches near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home. Ryan’s amendment to require a briefing from Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was rejected by the House Armed Services Committee, 25-32. Supporters called the flyby inappropriate and wasteful; opponents said a congressional briefing or probe was unnecessary. Hegseth lifted the pilots’ suspensions publicly and later flew with Kid Rock in an Apache over the D.C. area.
House Panel Rejects Amendment Seeking Answers After Army Apache Flyby Near Kid Rock’s Home
Kid Rock waves to a U.S. Army Apache helicopter as it hovers near the pool of his Tennessee estate. (Screenshot/X)
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) on Thursday sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for reversing disciplinary action against two U.S. Army pilots who flew Apache helicopters near musician Kid Rock’s Tennessee estate in March, saying Hegseth’s decision was more absurd than his portrayal on Saturday Night Live.
Amendment Seeks Briefing, Not New Investigation
Ryan offered an amendment to the House version of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would have required Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to brief the House Armed Services Committee on why the Army’s inquiry into the incident was halted. The proposal was defeated on a 25-32 vote.
“This amendment is really just about doing the right thing, which is getting answers on both what happened but also understanding why the secretary killed this investigation,” Ryan said. “Is there something deeper he might be hiding or covering up?”
Ryan described the flyby as “inappropriate,” “dangerous” and “a massive waste of money,” noting the flights occurred “in the middle of a war.” He emphasized the amendment requested only a briefing for the committee, not a separate congressional probe.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, urged members to reject the measure, saying, “I’m not sure what we gain from a congressional investigation.” Rogers and others argued the amendment was unnecessary because the matter had already been handled administratively.
What Happened
In March, Kid Rock (Richard James Ritchie) posted two videos showing himself waving as an Apache hovered near the pool at his Nashville estate. The Army confirmed that two Apaches from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, took part in the flight and said the soldiers involved were suspended while the incident was investigated.
“The Army takes any allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously and is committed to enforcing standards and holding personnel accountable,” Army spokesperson Maj. Montrell Russell said at the time.
Hegseth later posted on social media thanking Kid Rock and announcing that the pilots’ suspensions had been lifted, writing, “No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.” The New York Times subsequently reported that Hegseth and Kid Rock later flew together in an Apache over the Washington, D.C., area.
Before the vote, Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.) said: “We’re not asking for much here, just a briefing on why Secretary Hegseth canceled the Army’s investigation. To my knowledge, he has never actually explained it.” That requested briefing will not occur as a result of the committee vote.
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