LAWMAKERS ACCUSE OFFICIALS OF WITHHOLDING EVIDENCE AS OVERSIGHT TENSIONS ESCALATE IN WASHINGTON
Members of Congress are pushing for the release of video footage tied to a boat incident and are threatening to restrict Pete Hegseth’s travel budget if cooperation is not met.
U.S. lawmakers are intensifying pressure on federal officials to release video footage of a boat incident that has drawn scrutiny in recent oversight hearings. According to congressional aides, committees have repeatedly requested the footage but say agencies have delayed or failed to provide it.
Members of both parties argue the footage is necessary to clarify the sequence of events, determine whether protocols were followed and address conflicting accounts raised during testimony. The nature and details of the incident remain under wraps, increasing public curiosity and political tension.
In a striking escalation, several lawmakers warned that Pete Hegseth’s government-funded travel budget could be reduced or temporarily frozen if the footage continues to be withheld. Hegseth, who has taken on expanded public-engagement functions, has not commented on the threat but indicated he is aware of the congressional frustration.
Oversight leaders say the demand for transparency is part of a broader push to ensure federal personnel and public figures are held accountable. They argue that withholding the footage undermines congressional authority and obstructs fact-finding responsibilities.
Critics of the move say tying budget restrictions to document requests risks politicizing oversight mechanisms and could set a problematic precedent. Supporters counter that agencies have become increasingly reluctant to comply with subpoenas and that leverage is necessary to compel cooperation.
The committees involved say they will issue additional notices this week and may advance formal measures if the footage is not provided soon.
