Defense policy bill could limit Pete Hegseth's travel budget until unedited boat strike video is released

Written by: Zoë Richards, Kyle Stewart, Frank Thorp V and Brennan Leach at NBC News

A new version of the annual defense policy bill released Sunday could limit Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel plans next year if he doesn't release video of recent military strikes. Congress is set this week to consider the bill, which includes a provision that would restrict Hegseth’s travel budget for fiscal year 2026 until he provides the video of military strikes on boats in the Caribbean. Language included in the revised bill text would cut those funds to "not more than" 75% until Hegseth “provides to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations in the area of responsibility of the United States Southern Command.” The enormous defense policy bill designates priorities for defense policies. However, it does not include the actual funding for those policies — which is included in the defense appropriations bill. It’s unclear whether the bill would survive amendment votes to be approved, but the provision is the most recent example of Congress’ trying to use its oversight responsibilities on strikes that have deeply divided both chambers of Congress. NBC News has reached out to the Defense Department for comment. Of particular concern are a pair of strikes conducted on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean on Sept. 2, which have sparked inquiries in both the House and the Senate over concerns that the second strike could amount to a war crime. The White House has said Navy Adm. Frank M. Bradley, who then led Joint Special Operations Command, ordered a second strike on a boat coming from Venezuela and allegedly carrying narcotics. That second strike killed survivors of an initial strike that day. NBC News reported over the weekend that Bradley told lawmakers that intelligence confirmed the 11 people on the boat were legitimate targets. An administration official said in a written statement that a uniformed judge advocate general provided counsel "every step of the way." President Donald Trump on Monday denied comments he made last week that he had “no problem” releasing any video tied to the second strike on an alleged drug vessel on Sept. 2. “I didn’t say that — that’s — you said that, I didn’t say that,” Trump told reporters when he was asked about his past comments. Trump also deferred to Hegseth when he was asked about Hegseth’s telling reporters over the weekend that the video was under review, saying, “Whatever he decides is OK with me.” The Pentagon on Thursday reported the 22nd known military strike against alleged drug-carrying boats in recent months that have killed at least 86 people. The Trump administration has frequently said targeted vessels are traveling along known drug routes and carrying narcotics when the United States conducts its strikes, without providing evidence. CORRECTION (Dec. 8, 2025, 9:46 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated when the revised annual defense policy bill was released. It was released Sunday, not Monday. Courtney Kube, Julie Tsirkin and Gordon Lubold contributed.