While Democrats are alleging 'war crimes,' Hegseth asserts it's 'fog of war' concerning strikes on boats in Latin America.

Just three months later, he quickly became embroiled in Signalgate as he and other top U.S. Officials used the popular Signal messaging application to discuss pending military strikes in Yemen. A Pentagon Inspector General’s report on the matter was delivered to lawmakers Wednesday.

And now, in what could be his most significant career achievement to date, Hegseth is challenging questions about the use of military force and insists that he make public the video recordings following reports that a special operations unit attacked survivors a raid on a suspected narcotics vessel off the coast of Venezuela. Certain legislators and legal experts contend that the subsequent attack would have contravened the rules of engagement in wartime.

“These are serious charges, and that’s the reason we’re going to have special oversight,” said Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The scrutiny surrounding Hegseth’s brash leadership style is surfacing what has been long-building discontent in Congress over President Donald Trump’s choice to helm the U.S. Military. And it’s posing a potentially existential moment for Hegseth as the congressional committees overseeing the military launch an investigation amid mounting calls from Democratic senators for his resignation.

Hegseth vowed a ‘warrior culture,’ but lawmakers take issue

Since his efforts to become defense secretary, Hegseth has pledged to implement a “warrior culture” within the U.S. Government's most influential and costly agency, ranging from renaming it the Department of War to effectively abandoning the regulations that dictate soldier conduct during critical situations.

On Tuesday, Hegseth referenced the “fog of war” to justify the subsequent attack, stating that detonations and flames were evident, and he observed no survivors in the water when the second strike was authorized and executed. He criticized individuals questioning his decisions, labeling them as part of the issue.

However, the strategy for the mission aligned with the military's course under Hegseth, who is a former infantry officer in the Army National Guard. He belongs to the post-September 11th cohort, having been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and was awarded Bronze Stars.

During a speech in September, he told an unusual gathering of top military brass whom he had summoned from all corners of the globe to the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia that they should not “fight with stupid rules of engagement.”

“We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country,” he said. “No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for warfighters.”

But now lawmakers and military and legal experts say the Sept. 2 attack borders on illegal military action.

“Somebody made a horrible decision. Somebody needs to be held accountable,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who in January held out support for Hegseth until only moments before casting a crucial vote for his confirmation.

“Secretary Talk Show Host may have been experiencing the ‘fog of war,’ but that doesn’t change the fact that this was an extrajudicial killing amounting to murder or a war crime,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “He must resign.”

Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican who served 30 years active duty in the Air Force, finishing his career at the rank of brigadier general, said he hasn’t been a fan of Hegseth’s leadership. “I don’t think he was up to the task,” Bacon said.

Will Hegseth keep Trump’s support?

The Republican, Trump, has generally maintained his support for his defense secretary, a role considered among the most critical Cabinet appointments. However, the actions taken by Wicker, in conjunction with Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and the leading Democrats on these committees, to initiate inquiries, represent an uncommon instance of Congress asserting its power and its mandate to scrutinize the Trump administration.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who guided the defense secretary’s appointment to approval, has stated the naval assaults fall under Trump’s prerogative as commander in chief — and he pointed out that Hegseth serves at the president’s discretion.

“I don’t have, at this point, an evaluation of the secretary,” Thune said at the start of the week. “Others can make those evaluations.”

However, Hegseth also possesses considerable support among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and it's still uncertain to what extent Republicans would truly oppose the president, particularly given that they've spent the initial year of his term acquiescing to his numerous requests.

Vice President JD Vance, who cast a rare tiebreaking vote to confirm Hegseth, has vigorously defended him in the attack. And Sen. Eric Schmitt, another close ally to Trump, dismissed criticism of Hegseth as “nonsense” and part of an effort to undermine Trump’s focus on Central and South America.

“He’s not part of the Washington elite,” said Schmitt, R-Mo. “He’s not a think tanker that people thought Trump was going to pick. … And so, for that reason and others, they just, they don’t like him.”

For several months, animosity has been escalating between certain Republican legislators and the Pentagon. Frustration has mounted on Capitol Hill due to recent decisions limiting defense officials' interactions with Congress and the sluggish delivery of details concerning Trump's initiative to eliminate drug-laden vessels near Venezuela's shores.

While safeguarding his position, Hegseth has engaged with Both Wicker and Rogers, the principal legislators in charge of the armed forces. Rogers indicated he was “satisfied” with Hegseth following their discussion, whereas Wicker stated he informed Hegseth that he desired him to appear before Congress.

Hegseth initially attempted to dismiss the initial account of the strike by sharing an image of the animated figure Franklin the Turtle shooting at a vessel from an aircraft, yet this action only intensified negative reactions toward him and incensed legislators who believed he wasn't treating the accusations with due gravity.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York labeled Hegseth a “national embarrassment,” and stated that the defense secretary’s social media sharing of the cartoon turtle is “something no serious leader would ever think of doing.”

Schumer reiterated his assertion on Wednesday that Hegseth “release the full, unedited tapes” regarding the events that transpired.

What information will Congress get?

This week, the heads of the armed services committees, alongside the leading Democrats on those committees, are scheduled to receive confidential testimony from Navy Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley. The White House has indicated that he was the one who authorized the subsequent attack on the individuals who survived.

GOP lawmakers have been cautious about offering opinions on the strike until their inquiry concludes, while Democrats contend that these issues involving Hegseth were inevitable.

Senator Tim Kaine, representing Virginia Democrats, referenced Hegseth’s tumultuous confirmation hearing, where concerns were voiced regarding his oversight of charitable organizations, alongside accusations of sexual assault and mistreatment, and consuming alcohol during work hours. Hegseth had pledged to abstain from alcohol if his appointment was approved.

“You don’t suddenly change your judgment level or change your character when you get confirmed to be secretary of defense,” Kaine said. “Instead, the things that have been part of your character just become much more dire and existential.”