Quill Lawrence

Hegseth says the U.S.

is at war with drug traffickers and can legally kill them on suspicion.

Nearly 100 people have died in strikes on small boats.

Critics call it murder.

Even under the laws of war, the September 2nd strike is controversial because two survivors of an initial strike were targeted and killed as they clung to burning wreckage and waved in distress.

Hegseth says the Congressional Armed Services Committees, the Hask and Sask, will see the full video on Wednesday.

Of course, we're not going to release a top secret, full, unedited video of that to the general public.

Hask and sask and appropriate committees will see it.

Reactions from lawmakers that have already seen the video have fallen mostly along partisan lines.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Since September, the Pentagon has announced two dozen strikes killing nearly 100 people.

The Trump administration says it is at war with narco-traffickers and can therefore legally kill alleged smugglers, even when the crews on the boats have no weapons and show no hostile intent.

Many military and civilian lawyers call these killings illegal execution without trial.

A group of Democratic lawmakers has called on military officers to disobey illegal orders.

One of them, Senator and former combat pilot Mark Kelly, has been notified that the Pentagon has opened an official command investigation into his statement, which could mean calling him to active duty to face court-martial.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said on social media the department will remove positions he called unnecessary, most of which have been unfilled for a year.

He said VA hospitals will continue to fill vacancies as needed.

A VA spokesman said that'll be about 25,000 jobs.

About 30,000 positions have already been eliminated through attrition, early retirement, and deferred resignation since the Trump administration announced plans to downsize the VA.