Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to brief top lawmakers known as the “Gang of Eight” in a closed-door session on Tuesday, according to officials, with reference to Baltimore Chronicle. The briefing comes after the completion of the administration’s national security strategy and amid ongoing scrutiny of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean.
Separately, Senator Roger Wicker, Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters he plans to speak this week with Admiral Alvin Holsey, who unexpectedly announced this fall that he would step down as head of U.S. Southern Command after less than a year on the job. Details regarding whether the meeting would take place in person or virtually have not been confirmed.
Hegseth has defended the legality of military operations in the Latin America region, including the strikes on September 2 that killed two survivors. Lawmakers are expected to question the administration’s national security team on the legality of the operations and seek clarification on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two individuals.
Prior to announcing his retirement, Holsey reportedly expressed concerns to Hegseth’s team regarding military operations in the region, although it remains unclear whether he questioned the legality of the campaign. Holsey’s last day in uniform will be Friday after 37 years of service.
The Gang of Eight includes the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees, along with the House and Senate minority and majority leaders, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Their briefing with Hegseth, Rubio, and Caine will provide lawmakers with detailed updates on recent military actions and the administration’s long-term national security strategy.
Earlier we wrote that U.S. Admiral Mitch Bradley Faces Scrutiny Over Controversial Caribbean Drug Boat Strike.
