A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a provision that would limit Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's access to official travel funds unless the Pentagon complies with multiple congressional information requests.

The measure was included in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2027 and passed the committee by an 18-9 vote.

Under the proposal, no more than 75 percent of the travel budget allocated to Hegseth's office could be spent until the Department of Defense provides documents, answers, and evidence requested by Congress.

Lawmakers have expressed frustration over what they describe as a lack of transparency from Pentagon officials regarding several controversial military actions.Among the primary concerns are U.S.military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters and a missile strike that hit a girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, 2026.According to the report, more than 200 people have died in maritime anti-drug operations since September 2025.

Senators have also requested unedited footage and operational records related to an alleged 'double-tap' strike in the Caribbean Sea, where survivors of an initial attack were reportedly targeted in a subsequent strike.

The committee is additionally seeking greater transparency regarding the Minab school bombing, which reportedly killed at least 165 people, most of them children.Preliminary Pentagon findings suggested that a U.S.

Tomahawk missile may have been responsible, but officials have not publicly confirmed responsibility and say the incident remains under investigation.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has criticized Hegseth's handling of the matter, arguing that congressional oversight has been insufficient and calling for his resignation.

The House version of the NDAA does not currently contain the same travel-funding restriction, meaning the provision would need to survive negotiations between the House and Senate before becoming law.