Senate threatens to cut Hegseth travel budget until Pentagon releases videos of lethal boat strikes

Senators have reportedly tucked a provision in a defense bill that would withhold 75% of War Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel budget until they receive more details about the deadly bombing of an Iranian school and full videos of the lethal strikes against alleged drug boats.

The provision was tucked into the Senate Armed Services Committee’s National Defense Authorization Act, which the panel passed last week, though the new addition was filed Tuesday, according to Politico.

The threat comes after Congress passed legislation late last year that restricted Hegseth's travel budget by 25% in order to get the Pentagon to turn over videos on the lethal strikes. 

The move further signals bipartisan dissatisfaction with the Pentagon slow-walking responses to congressional inquiries. Lawmakers have also complained that Pentagon leaders have not included them in major national security decisions. 

The requests are for videos related to the U.S. response to alleged drug smuggling operations in Operation Southern Spear. The lethal operation began last September and over 200 people have been killed in the boat strikes so far.

The request is also for information on the bombing of an elementary school in Iran, which occurred toward the beginning of the U.S.-Iranian conflict in February. Approximately 150 people reportedly died in the bombing.

The funding threat was not included in the House's version of the NDAA and would need to be added and passed by both chambers before it could be sent to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.