Pentagon Under Fire: Defense Secretary Hegseth Faces Serious Scrutiny Over Controversial Venezuela Military Strikes

Trump has predominantly supported his defense secretary, one of the most crucial Cabinet positions in the administration.

Pete Hegseth narrowly survived a challenging Senate confirmation process to become defense secretary earlier this year, facing lawmakers concerned about the former Fox News host's qualifications, temperament, and suitability for the position.

Just three months into his tenure, Hegseth became entangled in Signalgate when he and other high-ranking US officials utilized the Signal messaging application to discuss impending military strikes in Yemen. A Pentagon inspector general's report submitted to lawmakers Wednesday determined his actions endangered both personnel and mission objectives.

Now, in what could be the defining moment of his career, Hegseth is confronting serious questions regarding the use of military force and demands to release video footage after a special operations team allegedly attacked survivors from a strike on a suspected drug boat near Venezuela's coast. Several lawmakers and legal experts suggest this second strike may have violated international armed conflict laws.

"These are serious charges, and that's the reason we're going to have special oversight," stated Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The scrutiny surrounding Hegseth's bold leadership approach is bringing to light long-simmering congressional discontent over President Donald Trump's selection to lead the US military. This presents a potentially career-threatening situation for Hegseth as congressional committees overseeing military affairs launch investigations amid increasing calls from Democratic senators for his resignation.

Since assuming the role of defense secretary, Hegseth has pledged to instill a "warrior culture" in the government's most powerful and expensive department, from renaming it the Department of War to essentially abandoning rules governing soldier conduct in life-or-death situations.

On Tuesday, Hegseth cited the "fog of war" when defending the follow-up strike, claiming there were explosions and fire, and that he didn't observe survivors in the water when the second strike was ordered and executed. He criticized those questioning his decisions as part of the problem.

Yet the operational approach aligned with the military direction under Hegseth, a former Army National Guard infantry officer from the post-September 11 generation who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and received Bronze Stars.

During a September speech at an unusual gathering of top military leaders whom he had summoned to the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia, he instructed them not to "fight with stupid rules of engagement."

"We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country," he declared. "No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for warfighters."

However, lawmakers and military and legal experts now assert the September 2 attack potentially constitutes illegal military action.

"Somebody made a horrible decision. Somebody needs to be held accountable," said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who in January withheld support for Hegseth until moments before casting a crucial confirmation vote.

"Secretary Talk Show Host may have been experiencing the 'fog of war,' but that doesn't change the fact that this was an extrajudicial killing amounting to murder or a war crime," stated Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. "He must resign."

Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican who served 30 years of active duty in the Air Force, retiring as a brigadier general, expressed disapproval of Hegseth's leadership. "I don't think he was up to the task," Bacon said.

Trump has largely stood by his defense secretary, one of the most significant Cabinet positions. However, the decisions by Wicker, along with House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers of Alabama and leading Democrats on the committees, to initiate investigations represent a rare instance of Congress asserting its oversight authority over the Trump administration.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who guided Hegseth's nomination through confirmation, has stated that the boat strikes fall within Trump's commander-in-chief authority—noting that Hegseth serves at the president's discretion.

"I don't have, at this point, an evaluation of the secretary," Thune remarked at the beginning of the week. "Others can make those evaluations."

Nevertheless, Hegseth maintains strong allies on Capitol Hill, and it remains uncertain how far Republicans would actually challenge the president, especially after spending his administration's first year acquiescing to his various demands.

Vice President JD Vance, who cast a rare tiebreaking vote to confirm Hegseth, has vigorously defended him regarding the attack. Sen. Eric Schmitt, another close Trump ally, dismissed criticism of Hegseth as "nonsense" and part of an effort to undermine Trump's focus on Central and South America.

"He's not part of the Washington elite," said Schmitt, R-Mo. "He's not a think tanker that people thought Trump was going to pick. ... And so, for that reason and others, they just, they don't like him."

Tensions between certain Republican lawmakers and the Pentagon have escalated for months. Capitol Hill has expressed frustration with recent restrictions on defense officials' communication with lawmakers and the slow release of information regarding Trump's campaign to destroy drug-transporting vessels off Venezuela's coast.

While defending his position, Hegseth has spoken with both Wicker and Rogers, the top lawmakers overseeing military matters. Rogers expressed being "satisfied" with Hegseth following their conversation, while Wicker indicated he requested Hegseth to testify before Congress.

Initially, Hegseth attempted to dismiss the strike report by posting an image of cartoon character Franklin the Turtle firing on a boat from a helicopter, which only intensified criticism and angered lawmakers who felt he wasn't taking the allegations seriously.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York called Hegseth a "national embarrassment," adding that the defense secretary's social media cartoon post is "something no serious leader would ever think of doing."

On Wednesday, Schumer reiterated his demand that Hegseth "release the full, unedited tapes" of the incident.

Later this week, armed services committee chairs, along with the committees' top Democrats, will hear private testimony from Navy Vice Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, who the White House has identified as ordering the second strike on survivors.

While Republicans have carefully withheld judgment on the strike pending their investigation, Democrats maintain these issues with Hegseth were foreseeable.

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, referenced Hegseth's troubled confirmation hearing, which raised concerns about his nonprofit management, allegations of sexual assault and abuse, and drinking on the job. Hegseth had pledged to abstain from alcohol if confirmed.

"You don't suddenly change your judgment level or change your character when you get confirmed to be secretary of defense," Kaine remarked. "Instead, the things that have been part of your character just become much more dire and existential."