Hegseth, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff to brief ‘Gang of Eight’ US lawmakers, source says

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine are expected to brief “Gang of Eight” lawmakers on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the plan.

The “Gang of Eight” (the intelligence committee and the Senate and House leaders of both parties) traditionally receives briefings on major national security actions.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan has not been publicly disclosed, did not discuss the nature of the possible briefing.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Hegseth would brief the group but did not comment on Caine’s involvement.

The briefing comes as tensions between the United States and Venezuela escalate as President Donald Trump threatens ground strikes against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers after more than three months of military action against so-called drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The US military also staged a dramatic warship buildup in the Caribbean.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Writing by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Jacqueline ‌Wong and Leslie Adler)