WASHINGTON, D.C. January 3, 2026 – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated today that a recent military-supported action to apprehend an indicted individual was a law enforcement exercise conducted in support of the Department of Justice, and did not require prior notification to Congress.
In a video statement released from his office, Hegseth addressed questions about the operation while reaffirming ongoing U.S. military posture in the region.
“We’re postured, and the President said the blockade continues — no oil going in and out, no drug boats allowed to traffic in the Caribbean or Eastern Pacific,” Hegseth said. “We’re still poised there.”
He described the operation as follows: “This was a law enforcement exercise — the Department of Defense in support of the Department of Justice, pulling an indicted person who ultimately will face justice.”
Hegseth stressed that advance notification to Congress was not necessary under the circumstances.
“This is not something you notify Congress about beforehand,” he said, adding that lawmakers are kept involved as partners in appropriate ways.
The remarks appear to respond to criticism, reportedly from some Democratic members of Congress, over the lack of prior briefing on the action. Details about the indicted individual’s identity, location of the operation, or exact timing have not been publicly disclosed.
A clip of the statement circulated widely on social media platform X, where some users interpreted it as a sharp rebuke to critics. However, Hegseth’s delivery in the video remained measured and focused on operational and legal justification.
The ongoing blockade referenced by Hegseth aligns with longstanding U.S. efforts to interdict narcotics trafficking and enforce sanctions on illicit oil trade in the Western Hemisphere.
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