Pentagon Blocks Congressional Staffers from Venezuela Boat Strike Briefing

Pentagon Bars Senior House Staffers From Briefing on Venezuela Boat Strike The Department of War has barred senior congressional staffers from attending a briefing on the U.S. military strike against a boat in the Caribbean Sea, sparking concerns about transparency and oversight. According to three government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, senior staff from House leadership and relevant committees were denied access to the briefing last Tuesday. The officials said that the Office of the Secretary of War cited "operational security" as the reason for excluding them. The strike, which was announced by President Donald Trump on September 15, targeted a boat in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, which covers the Caribbean and all of South America. In his post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the strike killed three people and warned that "if you are transporting drugs that can kill Americans, we are hunting you!" The decision to bar senior congressional staffers from the briefing has raised questions about the administration's commitment to transparency and accountability. "This is a clear attempt by the Pentagon to stonewall Congress," said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. "We need to know more about this operation, including its planning, execution, and legal justification." The Department of War has not commented on why senior congressional staffers were excluded from the briefing. The strike is part of a broader campaign against alleged narcoterrorists in the region. The administration has been tight-lipped about the details of the operation, fueling speculation and concerns among lawmakers and experts. "This is a classic case of executive overreach," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the House Oversight Committee. "The administration is trying to keep Congress in the dark while it pursues its own agenda." Background: The U.S. military has been conducting operations against alleged narcoterrorists in the region for several years, but the details of these operations have been shrouded in secrecy. In 2020, the Trump administration launched a series of airstrikes against suspected narco-trafficking targets in Venezuela and Colombia. However, the exact nature and scope of these operations remain classified. The current strike has sparked concerns among lawmakers about the administration's commitment to transparency and accountability. "We need to know more about this operation, including its planning, execution, and legal justification," said Rep. Schiff. "This is a clear attempt by the Pentagon to stonewall Congress." As the controversy surrounding the strike continues to unfold, lawmakers are calling for greater transparency and oversight. "The American people have a right to know what their government is doing in their name," said Rep. Raskin. "We need to ensure that our military operations are lawful, proportional, and transparent." *Reporting by Theintercept.*