Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference after arriving in Brussels on June 18, 2026, for a meeting of NATO defense ministers. (Virginia Mayo/Pool photo via AP)
WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee is threatening to withhold most of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds until he provides information on a series of deadly strikes, including one on a girls’ school in Iran and alleged drug boats in the waters off South America.
Provisions included in the committee’s draft of the National Defense Authorization Act would force Hegseth to give lawmakers details on the bombing as well as full videos of the boat strikes before 75% of his travel budget can be unlocked.
The panel approved the legislation last week, but it would need to be passed by both the full Senate and House to be enacted. The House Armed Services Committee’s draft of the legislation did not include similar language.
The provisions call for the submission of unredacted civilian harm investigations and all supporting documents for the strike on the school, which killed more than 175 children and teachers on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. It also asks for information on several controversial strikes in Yemen last year.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said “nobody” purposefully attacked the Iranian school and noted that it remains under investigation. Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, told lawmakers last month that the probe is “complex” because the school was located on an active Iranian cruise missile base.
Democrats have urged the Pentagon to publicly take responsibility for the bombing.
Another bill provision requires Hegseth to submit unedited videos of strikes against vessels operated by designated “narcoterrorist” organizations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The ongoing campaign has killed more than 200 people in more than 60 strikes since September.
Congress included the same demand in last year’s defense policy bill but withheld 25% of Hegseth’s travel budget to force the video releases rather than 75% as proposed this year. Lawmakers from both parties expressed particular concern last year over a follow-up strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack.
Both Democrats and Republicans have complained about a lack of transparency from the Pentagon on major decisions, including military operations and personnel moves.
A separate provision in the bill requires the Pentagon to notify Congress within five days when a senior officer departs from their position early, either due to removal, reassignment or retirement. Lawmakers in the House included similar language after Hegseth fired several officers without explanation.
Other provisions require notification and justification to Congress when the promotion of an officer is delayed and mandates that the delay does not exceed 30 days. Hegseth has drawn scrutiny in recent months for delaying or blocking dozens of officer promotions.
