Capitol Hill Pushback Imperils Trump’s Venezuela Strategy as Caribbean Strikes Draw Scrutiny

Congress Seeks Oversight After Reports Of Follow-Up Strike

Congress is moving to reclaim authority over U.S. military activity in the Caribbean after reports that a Sept. 2 follow-up strike killed suspected drug smugglers following an earlier engagement that left survivors. Lawmakers from both parties have raised legal and policy questions, demanding documents, unedited video and explanations for the operations.

Legislative And Investigatory Responses

Members of Congress have responded with a mixture of legislative and oversight efforts: drafting bills to limit funding for regional operations, introducing War Powers resolutions, and seeking classified briefings and executive orders related to the strikes. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025, which would bar federal funding for strikes within or against Venezuela without congressional approval. Separately, senators including Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have filed a War Powers resolution to block hostilities in or against Venezuela.

“At this point I think we have to assume that increased Congressional oversight will make military action inside Venezuela less likely, unless the White House presents a clearer case for it,” said Geoff Ramsey, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Administration Response And Strategic Implications

The White House has defended the strikes as lawful actions in international waters aimed at disrupting narcotics trafficking. Officials say the campaign — including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford — is part of a broader effort to stop drugs from reaching U.S. shores and to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Experts say heightened scrutiny from Congress could compel the administration to change tactics: it might become more cautious about land operations inside Venezuela, seek an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) from Congress to shore up legal authority, or otherwise recalibrate its approach to avoid funding restrictions or confirmation battles that Congress could use as leverage.

Contested Accounts Of The Sept. 2 Operation

The controversy intensified after a Washington Post report said that Pentagon official Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered that everyone on board an alleged drug-running vessel be killed, and that a second strike on Sept. 2 eliminated remaining survivors. The White House has confirmed that a second strike occurred but has disputed the characterization that Hegseth ordered killings of all aboard.

Officials say Hegseth authorized Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley — then commander of Joint Special Operations Command and later head of U.S. Special Operations Command — to conduct the operation. Bradley provided a closed-door briefing for senators; some attendees said he denied receiving orders to "give no quarter" or to kill everyone aboard.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the briefing raised more concerns and reiterated calls for the complete, unedited video of the Sept. 2 strike and for additional documents and legal justifications. Reed and committee chair Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) have requested executive orders and other records as part of the committee's oversight.

Scale Of The Campaign And Political Stakes

The administration says it has carried out more than 20 strikes near Venezuela since September, with the most recent confirmed strike reported Nov. 15. Officials say strike frequency has slowed as vessels have become harder to locate. Republican supporters in the House have largely backed the administration’s approach so far, while a coalition of Democrats — and some Republicans — are pushing for new constraints.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital that the president, as commander in chief, has the authority to use U.S. power to stop drugs and that "all options are on the table" to combat what the administration calls "narcoterrorism."

What Comes Next

Congressional actions could include limiting funds for regional operations, passing a War Powers resolution of disapproval, holding additional classified and public briefings, or seeking an AUMF. For the administration, those pressures could translate into greater legal and political caution before launching any land operations in Venezuela.

Note: Reporting on this story includes material from Fox News Digital and The Washington Post. The Associated Press also contributed to coverage.