Rep. Mike Turner says the Trump administration has not briefed Congress on its Venezuela strategy and is reluctant to reveal tactics to Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. has increased deployments in the Southern Command region, carried out at least 22 strikes since early September (reportedly killing 87 people), and seized a sanctioned tanker believed to hold over 1 million barrels. Sen. Mark Warner also says he was not briefed; Turner described the seizure as growing "economic pressure" on the Maduro regime.
Former House Intel Chair: Trump Administration Hasn’t Briefed Congress On Venezuela Strategy
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), the former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC News on Sunday that the Trump administration has not adequately briefed Congress on its objectives toward Venezuela, accusing the White House of withholding details to avoid revealing tactics to President Nicolás Maduro.
"The president has not been clear, and he has not certainly been communicating with Congress," Turner said on ABC's This Week. "They don't want to show their hands."
In recent months the U.S. has intensified pressure on Maduro's government. The Pentagon has increased its presence in the U.S. Southern Command region, and the White House has authorized at least 22 strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September — operations U.S. officials say have killed at least 87 people.
U.S. forces also seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast that was en route to Cuba. The tanker, which was sanctioned by Washington in 2022, was reported to be carrying more than 1 million barrels of oil.
President Trump defended the actions, citing concerns including migration from Venezuela to the United States. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), a member of the "Gang of Eight," said he had not been briefed on the administration's intentions regarding Venezuela.
Turner characterized the tanker seizure as part of growing "economic pressure" on the Maduro regime. Although Venezuelan oil exports have declined, the country remained the 10th-largest crude producer among OPEC members as of September 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Why It Matters: Lawmakers from both parties say they should be informed about measures that could escalate tensions in the region. The lack of clear congressional communication raises oversight and policy concerns about the scope and objectives of U.S. operations near Venezuela.
