Bipartisan House Lawmakers Demand Transparency on U.S. Military Strikes in Caribbean and Pacific
President Donald Trump, left, listens as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
By Jim Mishler | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 03:15 PM EST
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is calling for greater transparency from President Donald Trump’s administration regarding ongoing U.S. military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. The lawmakers emphasized the need for detailed briefings and clarification on the legal justification for the operations.
Reps. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, have requested the administration to explain the legal basis for the strikes, whether Congress will be asked for authorization, and if the targets posed a threat to the United States. They also sought details on the military’s verification process for identifying targets.
“We strongly support the effort to reduce the flow of narcotics into this country,” the lawmakers wrote. “This effort, like every action the United States military takes, must be done within the legal, moral and ethical framework that sets us apart from our adversaries.”
The members requested a classified briefing for the House Armed Services Committee, raising concerns about whether those killed in the strikes were cartel operatives or civilians coerced into smuggling. They asked, “What evidence confirms that those killed were cartel operatives, rather than coerced, deceived, or trafficked civilians?” and questioned the existence of review mechanisms to assess strike outcomes.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated the U.S. struck a drug-trafficking boat in the Eastern Pacific on Tuesday, killing two “narcoterrorists.” The military has conducted at least 16 strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in South America since the Trump administration expanded its presence in the Southern Command region.
A White House spokesperson defended the operations as targeting “designated narcoterrorists” confirmed by U.S. intelligence, asserting that President Trump will continue using American power to combat drug trafficking while maintaining transparency. The administration argued the strikes do not require congressional authorization, citing the absence of hostilities against U.S. forces.
A senior official noted most strikes are conducted by unmanned systems from naval vessels in international waters and praised the Trump administration for being more forthcoming with Congress than previous administrations.
