A new version of the annual defense policy bill released Sunday could limit Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel plans next year unless he releases video of recent military strikes.
Congress is set to consider a bill this week that includes a provision that would limit Hegseth's travel budget for fiscal year 2026 until he provides video of military strikes on boats in the Caribbean.
Language included revised text of the bill would cut those funds by “no more than” 75% until Hegseth “provides the House and Senate Armed Services Committees with unedited video footage of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.”
The huge Defense Policy Bill sets defense policy priorities. However, it does not include the actual funding for these policies, which is included in the defense appropriations bill.
It is unclear whether the bill will survive a vote on amendments and be approved, but the provision is the latest example of Congress trying to use its responsibilities to oversee strikes that have deeply divided both chambers of Congress.
NBC News has reached out to the Department of Defense for comment.
Of particular concern are two strikes on September 2 against a suspected drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean. raised questions in both the House and Senate over concerns that a second strike could amount to a war crime.
The White House said Navy Adm. Frank M. Bradley, then head of the Joint Special Operations Command, ordered a second strike on a boat coming from Venezuela and allegedly carrying drugs. This second strike killed those who survived the first strike that day.
NBC News reported over the weekend Bradley told lawmakers that intelligence confirmed the 11 people on the boat were legitimate targets. An administration official said in a written statement that the uniformed Judge Advocate General provided counsel “every step of the way.”
President Donald Trump on Monday denied comments he made last week that he “no problem” release any video associated with a second strike on a suspected drug vessel on September 2.
“I didn’t say it — it — you said it, I didn’t say it,” Trump told reporters when asked about his past comments.
Trump also deferred to Hegseth when asked about Hegseth telling reporters over the weekend that the video was under reviewsaying, “Whatever he decides is fine with me.”
The Pentagon on Thursday reported the 22nd known military strike on suspected drug vessels in recent months, killing at least 86 people.
The Trump administration has often said the targeted vessels were plying known drug trafficking routes and carrying drugs when the United States carried out strikes, without providing evidence.
CORRECTION (Dec. 8, 2025, 9:46 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article was misstated when the revised annual defense policy bill was released. It was released on Sunday, not Monday.
Courtney Kube, Yulia Tsirkin And Gordon Lubold contributed.
