THE SCRUTINY OVER DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH'S LEADERSHIP AT THE PENTAGON HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING ON CAPITOL HILL.

HE FACED A GRUELING SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS TO BECOME SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EARLIER THIS YEAR, FACING LAWMAKERS WARY OF THE FORMER FOX NEWS CHANNEL HOST AND SKEPTICAL OF HIS CAPACITY, TEMPERAMENT AND FITNESS FOR THE JOB.

JUST THREE MONTHS LATER, HE QUICKLY BECAME EMBROILED IN SIGNALGATE AS HE AND OTHER TOP U.S. OFFICIALS USED THE POPULAR SIGNAL MESSAGING APPLICATION TO DISCUSS PENDING MILITARY STRIKES IN YEMEN.

AND NOW, HEGSETH IS CONFRONTING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE AFTER A SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM REPORTEDLY ATTACKED SURVIVORS OF A STRIKE ON AN ALLEGED DRUG BOAT OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA.

SOUNDBITE (English) Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense:

"Every one of those drug boats is tied to a designated terrorist organization. We know who's on it, what they're doing, what what they're carrying, all these white bales are not Christmas gifts from Santa. This is drugs running on four motor fast boats or submarines that we've also struck. No one's fishing on a submarine. And I have empowered them to make that call."

SOME LAWMAKERS AND LEGAL EXPERTS SAY THE SECOND STRIKE WOULD HAVE VIOLATED THE LAWS OF ARMED CONFLICT.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senate Minority Leader:

"We need more information on the Caribbean. I've asked Hegseth over and over again to release the video so we see what's going on and we see if there are war crimes, if the War Powers Act is being violated."

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS LARGELY STOOD BY HIS DEFENSE SECRETARY, AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT CABINET-LEVEL POSITIONS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"As far as the attack is concerned, I didn't, you know I I still haven't gotten a lot of information because I rely on Pete. But to me it was an attack."

SECRETARY HEGSETH HAS STRONG ALLIES ON CAPITOL HILL, AND IT REMAINS UNCLEAR HOW MUCH REPUBLICANS WOULD ACTUALLY BE WILLING TO PUSH BACK ON THE PRESIDENT.