Trump's top national security officials to brief 'Gang of Eight' US lawmakers, sources say
Source: Reuters
December 8, 2025 10:37 PM EST Updated 9 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to brief the "Gang of Eight" lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon, according to two sources familiar with the plan and a Trump administration official.
The "Gang of Eight" - intelligence committee and Senate and House of Representatives leaders from both parties - are traditionally briefed on major national security actions. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan is not public, did not discuss the nature of the briefing, expected to take place at 3:30 p.m. (2030 GMT).
The disclosure about the briefing comes amid mounting tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as President Donald Trump threatens land strikes against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers, after more than a three-month military campaign against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. The U.S. military has also staged a dramatic buildup of warships in the Caribbean, including an aircraft carrier strike group and a nuclear submarine.
Admiral Alvin Holsey, the outgoing commander of the U.S. military's Southern Command, which oversees American troops in Latin America, is also expected to brief a separate group of House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday, two people familiar with the matter said.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/hegseth-chairman-joint-chiefs-staff-brief-gang-eight-us-lawmakers-source-says-2025-12-09/
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