Duckworth Joins Warren, Lawmakers in Investigating Reports that DoD Failed to Provide Sufficient Care for Servicemembers Injured in Iranian Strike

Duckworth Joins Warren, Lawmakers in Investigating Reports that DoD Failed to Provide Sufficient Care for Servicemembers Injured in Iranian Strike

Survivors of Iranian attack on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait say Pentagon ignored requests for advanced medical aid, failed to provide protection from strikes, misclassified injuries

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 11 colleagues sitting on the Congressional Armed Services Committees in opening a new investigation into reports that the Department of Defense (DoD) failed to provide adequate medical care to servicemembers injured in a March drone strike on a U.S. military post at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. In a new letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers asked him to provide clarity on the reports and DoD's investigation into the Port Shuaiba strike.

"As President Trump once again ramps up his reckless war in Iran, and new reports indicate that additional American bases have come under attack, it is critical that DoD provide answers about its capacity to provide care for injured service members," wrote the lawmakers.

Survivors reported facing delays and challenges in getting necessary medical care, including that injured servicemembers who were flown to Germany for care were then told that they could only get limited treatment and had to wait in barracks as the hospital was unable to admit them. Other servicemembers with symptoms of traumatic brain injuries were reportedly unable to get proper care for nearly a month after the strike, even after they were flown from Germany to Fort Hood in Texas.

The reports also raise serious concerns about DoD's lack of preparation for a strike against Port Shuaiba. A Soldier reportedly filed a complaint with the Inspector General stating that the lack of safety measures at Port Shuaiba were so significant that the unit's force-protection assessments "recommended against positioning any personnel at Shuaiba Port." Survivors of the strike reported that they believed that at least one victim of the attack could have survived if they had had proper access to care.

The Army reportedly downplayed injuries sustained during the strike, including by telling families that their loved ones were not seriously injured despite suffering extensive injuries.

"These reports are also emblematic of a broader pattern of the Trump administration's blatant dismissal and disregard for the injuries and deaths of service members in this war," wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers also called out DoD's revision of official casualty counts from the war against Iran. Last week, DoD lowered the number of U.S. servicemembers who had been killed in the war so far from 18 to 14 and categorized their deaths under "Overseas Operations" instead of Operation Epic Fury, in an apparent attempt to hide the growing casualty count of U.S. servicemembers from President Trump's illegal war against Iran.

"This is shameful and a complete and utter disrespect to these service members, their loved ones, and those who served alongside them…It dishonors their ultimate sacrifice to attempt to hide the real costs of this war from the American people," said the lawmakers.

"As you and President Trump continue to risk the lives of service members in this reckless war, the American people deserve answers on whether you were adequately prepared to protect service members from Iranian attacks and get them the care they needed and whether you will be prepared to do so if the war continues and escalates even further," wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers asked Secretary Hegseth to provide answers related to the reports of insufficient medical care, injury classifications and details of the Port Shuaiba attack and ensuing investigation by August 12, 2026.

Along with Duckworth and Warren, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) along with U.S. Representatives Gil Cisneros (D-CA-31), Jason Crow (D-CO-6), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Seth Moulton (D-MA-6), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02).

Full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth's website.

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