Seth Moulton
11/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/05/2025 13:22
Moulton, Bacon Lead Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Calling for Answers on Trump Administration’s Lethal Strikes in Western Hemisphere
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Reps. Seth Moulton (MA-06) and Don Bacon (NE-02), along with Reps. Jason Crow (CO-06) and Mike Turner (OH-10), today sent a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump demanding answers about a series of lethal U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific.
In the letter, the lawmakers - all members of the House Armed Services Committee - underscored the importance of holding traffickers accountable while also upholding America's legal and moral standards.
The letter asks President Trump to clarify the legal basis for the strikes, whether the administration intends to seek congressional authorization, whether the individuals being targeted truly pose an active threat to the United States, and what processes exist to verify targets. It also calls for a classified briefing to the Armed Services Committee on how individuals and vessels are identified and what post-strike review mechanisms are in place.
"No one questions the threat that drug cartels pose to American families," said Congressman Moulton. "But launching lethal military strikes outside of a declared conflict raises serious legal and strategic questions that the administration has repeatedly failed to answer. The American people deserve clear answers about the legal, moral, and policy rationale behind these strikes."
"Many Americans know someone who has died from a fentanyl overdose," said Congressman Bacon. "I lost three younger brothers to drug and alcohol abuse, so I appreciate President Trump's willingness to take on the cartels and stop the deadly flow of drugs killing 100,000 Americans each year. But we must ensure the President is acting within the law and basing every decision on accurate intelligence. The Administration should come to Congress, make the legal case, present their intelligence, and assure the American people that any military action is grounded in both authority and accountability. If those standards are met, I'm confident Congress and the American people will stand behind decisive action to confront this crisis."
"We need to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities, but I have yet to hear a strategy from this administration on how they are going to accomplish that. Congress, and the American people, need answers," said Congressman Crow. "It seems like this administration has learned nothing from 25 years of war, trillions of dollars spent, and thousands of lives lost. This is not a problem we can bomb our way out of, Americans want restraint and lasting security, not more endless conflicts."
"We are all very concerned about how our past policy failures against the drug trade have had devastating impacts on lives and families in the United States," said Congressman Turner. "While the Cartels in South and Central America have taken advantage of those failures, when the Administration is using our military to take action against them, it is critical for Congress to understand the legal standards guiding these decisions and the policy rationale behind them. I remain committed to ensuring transparency and accountability, as my duty is to the American people, and will continue to ask crucial questions regarding these actions."
The lawmakers emphasized in the letter that the United States must remain committed to its values even while confronting the serious problem of narcotics trafficking.
"We support efforts to reduce the flow of deadly drugs," the lawmakers wrote. "But every U.S. military action must adhere to the legal, moral, and ethical standards that set America apart from its adversaries."
The lawmakers requested a response from the administration by November 14, 2025.
The letter can be read in full here.
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Seth Moulton published this content on November 05, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 05, 2025 at 19:22 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]