Hegseth Shuts Down Democrats Over Secret Venezuela Takedown

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the U.S. operation in Venezuela, calling it a law-enforcement exercise carried out in support of the Department of Justice — not a military action requiring advance notification to Congress. Hegseth said the United States remains postured in the region, with a continued blockade preventing oil shipments and drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Responding to Democratic criticism, he emphasized that Congress would be kept informed going forward, but said tipping off lawmakers beforehand could have jeopardized the mission to bring an indicted individual to justice.