What’s Going On
The Trump administration has killed as many as 80 people in the Caribbean, claiming they were on boats involved in trafficking drugs, but the administration has so far:
- Released no evidence to back its claims against the victims
- Given no clear legal justifications for its actions
- Refused to allow Members of Congress to see the unedited footage of these military strikes
According to new reporting, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued an order to kill all people on a boat. After the initial airstrike left two survivors clinging to wreckage in the water, the overseeing commander, Admiral Frank Bradley, ordered a second airstrike to comply with Hegseth’s order, killing those survivors who were in no position to fight, a move that military experts say would be a war crime if we were at war.
It’s important to keep in mind we aren’t even at war right now–which casts real doubt on whether any of the strikes are lawful.
Why Congress Needs to Step Up
The Constitution gives Congress the power to decide when we go to war. Oversight is not optional. It’s Congress’s job to demand evidence, set limits, and ensure accountability for the abuse of military force.
Where is the evidence? The Trump Administration has shown Congress no evidence to justify its actions and has given no due process to the suspects it’s targeting.
When the Executive Branch acts as judge, jury, and executioner, everyone’s rights are at risk.
We Need to Put Pressure on Congress
Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have promised to investigate Hegseth’s orders. They need to carry out a full investigation, not only of this incident, but of the legal and factual basis for the entire program of strikes in the Caribbean.
👉 Congress can say all the right things, but we know they will only actually take action if enough people put pressure on them and demand action.