FOLLOWING DEADLY ATTACK ON U.S. BASE IN KUWAIT THAT KILLED 6 SERVICEMEMBERS, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN AND HOUSE DEMOCRATIC VETERANS DEMAND SECRETARY HEGSETH INVESTIGATE FORCE PROTECTION FAILURES
Following Deadly Attack on U.S. Base in Kuwait that Killed 6 Servicemembers, Congressman Pat Ryan and House Democratic Veterans Demand Secretary Hegseth Investigate Force Protection Failures
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Congressman Ryan and 12 of his fellow House Democratic veterans are demanding an immediate investigation into force protection failures that led to the deaths of six U.S. servicemembers in Kuwait
The Members are specifically calling out contradictions in the Secretary’s characterization of the attack, which troops injured on base have called “falsehoods,” as well as the broader implications of vulnerabilities – particularly in response to Iranian drone strikes – to U.S. troops and assets as the conflict continues on without an end in sight
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Congressman Pat Ryan – an Iraq War combat veteran and the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress – is leading 12 of his fellow House Democratic veterans in demanding an immediate investigation into force protection failures that led to the deaths of six U.S. servicemembers in Kuwait.
The Members are specifically calling out contradictions in the Secretary’s characterization of the attack, which troops injured on base have called “falsehoods,” as well as the broader implications of threats posed by Iranian drones to the 50,000+ U.S. troops and billions of dollars in assets in the region. One troop injured in the attack said “the unit… was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position.” When asked specifically what fortifications were in place, another servicemember replied, “I would put it in the ‘none’ category, from a drone defense capability … none.”
As the President and Defense Secretary continue to build up their unauthorized military buildup in CENTCOM, Ryan and his colleagues are demanding a fulsome, transparent investigation into failures at the site of this attack, as well as the broader implications of vulnerabilities as the conflict continues.
“Secretary Hegseth owes the American people – especially the families of the six brave Patriots who lost their lives in the attack on a U.S. military site in Kuwait – honest answers and full accountability. As Trump continues to escalate his war in the Middle East, it’s absolutely essential that we get answers on the Department’s failure to both understand and mitigate the widely known risk posed by one-way Iranian attack drones. With 50,000+ troops in the region, we must urgently address these gaps,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Hegseth has refused to take accountability for these deaths, and has consistently misled the press about the nature of this attack. Not only is that immensely disrespectful to the brave troops who made the ultimate sacrifice – it also has deeply troubling implications about force protection across the region. Our men and women in uniform trust us, their elected officials, to do right by them. This investigation is essential to honoring that trust.”
“There are serious claims that military leadership left American troops unprotected at a known target in Kuwait—leading to the deaths of six brave servicemembers and many more wounded in an Iranian attack,” said Congressman Deluzio. “That is unacceptable. For the sake of our troops and their families, we must get to the bottom of what happened here. Secretary Hegseth and the Defense Department should answer our questions and investigate this thoroughly, just as the Congress should conduct its own oversight and investigation. No matter what, I will keep fighting in Congress for our troops in this reckless war.”
“I continue to mourn the loss of the six brave service members who died in Kuwait on March 1. It was nearly two months ago, and we still do not have a full understanding of what happened and why. What we do know is that these deaths were likely the result of poor planning,” said Congressman Ted Lieu. “On top of that, there has been no indication from the Trump Administration that measures have been taken to prevent similar incidents. As veterans, we are demanding a long-overdue investigation into what happened so that the families of those fallen service members, and the American public, can have a full accounting of what went wrong.”
“Six American service members are dead. They were our brothers and sisters, with families who expected to welcome them home. We owe them answers,” said Vindman. “If there were failures in force protection or a disconnect between conditions on the ground and what was shared publicly, we have a responsibility to uncover the truth. That means a thorough, transparent investigation and immediate action to address any vulnerabilities, especially as evolving threats continue to put our forces at risk.”
“President Trump's reckless decision to start a war with Iran has claimed the lives of American servicemembers and injured hundreds more,” said Congressman Crow. “The Commander in Chief launched a war of choice with no plan, no strategy, and no end game. The American people deserve answers on how the Trump Administration plans to end this conflict and protect our servicemembers overseas.”
“We owe these American patriots, every American in uniform serving in harm’s way, and their loved ones a sacred obligation that we must honor with a swift, thorough, and independent investigation,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “We will not rest until we deliver the accountability and force protection our troops urgently need.”
“Our service members report that they were left vulnerable to Iran’s attack. If true, this was a grave and utter failure on the part of the Department of Defense and Pete Hegseth. As a combat veteran, I know that there is no room for error in war and there’s no excuse for negligence of this magnitude. My prayers are with the families of the U.S. service members killed and those wounded. We demand a complete and transparent investigation,” said Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04).
“The President’s undefined and poorly strategized war of choice in Iran imposes enormous costs on our country, including the death of six servicemembers in Kuwait,” said Rep. Panetta. “Our condolences are with their families, and we stand with them in seeking immediate answers to ensure it is not repeated. This Administration has failed to communicate its mission, scope, and end goals for the Iran War, and Congress must reclaim its authority to end this conflict before any more servicemembers lose their lives in what has become one of the least debated wars.”
“Six heroic service members were killed in Kuwait because the President failed to act with transparency, measured diplomacy, and thoughtful justification. My prayers are with their families and loved ones. Congress cannot wait one more day to rein in this Administration’s recklessness and protect the lives of our troops,” said Representative Derek Tran (CA-45).
The full letter to Secretary Hegseth is included below:
Dear Secretary Hegseth,
We write to demand a formal, immediate investigation into the deaths of six U.S. servicemembers killed in Kuwait on March 1, 2026, during operations associated with the war in Iran. Congress must be kept fully and promptly informed of the investigation’s progress and any emerging findings.
Based on direct testimony from servicemembers injured in the attack and public reporting, it is clear that there was a deadly failure to protect our troops from known and predictable Iranian capabilities. As the Department and the President continue to amass U.S. troops and assets in the region without an end in sight, it is essential that we prioritize the safety of troops deployed in theater.
In addition to your failure to protect our troops, you, Secretary Hegseth, have also misled the public about the circumstances of the attack and failed to take accountability for the deaths of these brave men and women.
In a press briefing you characterized the attack as “a squirter” that hit a “fortified” tactical operations center. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the command post was a “secure facility” that was “fortified with 6-foot walls.” Despite these claims, we know these fatalities were in fact the result of a failure to provide sufficient overhead protection against known and predictable one-way attack drone threats.
Brave servicemembers have come forward detailing the reality on the ground. One servicemember injured in the attack explicitly called the Department’s characterization a “falsehood,” saying “the unit… was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position.” When asked specifically what fortifications were in place, another servicemember replied, “I would put it in the ‘none’ category, from a drone defense capability … none.”
These reports raise serious questions about the adequacy of force protection measures in theater, particularly in the face of increasingly sophisticated and persistent unmanned aerial system (UAS) threats.
In addition to including all physical evidence, operational data, first-hand accounts, and after-action reviews, please ensure your investigation also addresses the following questions:
- Was the threat of Iranian drone strikes on U.S. military sites and personnel assessed prior to the conflict?
- Why was overhead force protection not accounted for at the operations center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait?
- Has overhead force protection been accounted for on the other 19 military sites in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) and across U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)?
- Was the force protection posture based on previous in-theater operations with outdated or insufficient information?
- What are the preliminary findings regarding vulnerabilities in base infrastructure, including overhead protection and hardened facilities?
- How systemic and widespread were these targeting operations? How many Iranian drones have penetrated our defenses? Please provide any information on other Iranian drone or aerial incursions.
- What accountability measures are being considered in light of findings to date?
We remain deeply concerned about the broader implications for U.S. force posture and protection across the region. The evolving threat environment, particularly the proliferation of low-cost, low-altitude drones capable of evading traditional air defense systems, demands urgent attention. Especially as it relates to the safety and security of our 50,000+ servicemembers deployed to the CENTCOM AOR.
Accordingly, we also request information on the steps the Department of Defense is taking to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, including:
- Enhancements to counter-UAS capabilities at forward-deployed locations;
- Improvements to early warning systems and detection of low-flying drones;
- Efforts to harden facilities and provide adequate overhead protection for critical operational and living spaces;
- Adjustments to force posture, dispersal, or basing strategies to mitigate risk;
- Coordination with partner nations to strengthen integrated air and missile defense in the region.
The loss of these servicemembers is a profound tragedy, and we owe it to them, their families, and all those currently serving to ensure that every possible measure is taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and request a written response delivered to Congress no later than May 22, 2026.
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