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U.S. Defense Chief to Address Lawmakers Amid Venezuela Tensions

12/12/2025

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Hegseth Briefs Lawmakers

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will brief the "Gang of Eight" lawmakers on national security due to rising tensions with Venezuela.
This briefing follows a military campaign against drug traffickers, which faced scrutiny after a September 2 strike that killed two survivors.
Admiral Alvin Holsey suggested Congress may initiate a bipartisan inquiry into the incident.
Lawmakers are demanding the release of the full video of the strike to assess its legality, as the Defense Department's Law of War Manual prohibits attacks on incapacitated combatants.

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Hegseth's Disclosure Risks

An inspector general report states Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's disclosure via the Signal app risked endangering American troops by sharing attack plans targeting Houthi fighters in Yemen.
Because the Pentagon did not initiate a routine classification review, Hegseth focused on leaks within his staff.
Hegseth claims exoneration, while the inspector general did not determine whether the information was properly declassified.

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Hegseth Briefs Lawmakers

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will brief the "Gang of Eight" lawmakers on national security due to rising tensions with Venezuela.
This briefing follows a military campaign against drug traffickers, which faced scrutiny after a September 2 strike that killed two survivors.
Admiral Alvin Holsey suggested Congress may initiate a bipartisan inquiry into the incident.
Lawmakers are demanding the release of the full video of the strike to assess its legality, as the Defense Department's Law of War Manual prohibits attacks on incapacitated combatants.

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