WASHINGTON — A Senate Armed Service Committee hearing on Thursday focused on whether U.S. leaders can explain and oversee an expanded military posture in Latin America as the Trump administration’s campaign in the region escalates scrutiny.
Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan, a Marine Corps general nominated to lead U.S. Southern Command, told lawmakers he is prepared to oversee an expanded presence that began before Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured. Donovan, however, said he did not know how long the enhanced focus would last.
The committee hearing came as Donovan, if confirmed by the Senate, would replace Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, who retired last year amid increased scrutiny over deadly U.S. strikes on boats in the region. Lawmakers pressed Donovan for details on how he would manage the Southern Command’s role and the broader outline of long-term planning.
Democrats and Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent, asked Donovan how the administration intends to run the command after the expanded posture. King challenged Donovan with a question about whether he knew what the plan was and why ships, aircraft and soldiers were being positioned in the region.
“So you don’t know what the plan is now? You don’t know why all those ships and aircraft and soldiers are there?” King asked.
Donovan replied, “Senator, I do not.” He said the reason was that he is not involved in military planning for the region in his current role as vice commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Other lawmakers focused on how the shift to the Western Hemisphere would affect Southern Command operations. Sen. Mark Kelly asked Donovan whether the command would need to be “much different” this year than it was last year, and Donovan said he expected that change.
The hearing was the latest push by some lawmakers to question the administration’s Latin America operations and its justification for boat strikes. Lawmakers said those strikes have raised concerns about international law and the use of force.
Alongside Donovan, lawmakers also grilled Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, nominated to lead the National Security Agency. Members asked Rudd about surveillance and whether the NSA could be used against innocent Americans.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former CIA analyst, said she worries the Trump administration could order the NSA to spy on Americans because of their political views or speech, which she said is expressly forbidden by federal law. Slotkin asked Rudd whether he would reject that.
“Senator, if confirmed, I will execute my responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution and all applicable laws,” Rudd said.
The NSA has been without a permanent director since Trump fired Gen. Tim Haugh last year, the report said. The NSA director also runs the Pentagon’s Cyber Command, a dual role that lawmakers said gives the position a critical place in U.S. defensive and offensive cyber capabilities.
Lawmakers from both parties said they expect the nominations to be approved, and a vote was not announced.