The US Senate is scheduled to vote Thursday on a Democratic-led war powers resolution that would require President Donald Trump to obtain Congressional approval before authorizing further military actions against Venezuela. The measure follows a weekend operation in which US special forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.
The Resolution: Filed by Senator Tim Kaine, the resolution would obligate the president to seek Congress’s permission before using US armed forces against Venezuela. Supporters argue the administration should not undertake significant military actions without legislative oversight, especially after an operation that lawmakers say lacked prior notification.
“After the administration’s actions over the weekend, which resulted in several injuries to US service members … Congress needs to tell the American public where it stands,”
— Senator Tim Kaine, on the Senate floor.
Context and Controversy: Critics of the administration point to a broader campaign of strikes and operations against Venezuelan targets that escalated in September, when Mr. Trump authorized airstrikes on vessels off Venezuela’s coast he said were carrying illegal drugs. Those strikes have been linked to at least 110 deaths, though experts dispute claims that the vessels were delivering fentanyl to US shores. Tensions grew after reports that US forces killed two survivors of one strike rather than taking them into custody.
Political Divide: Previous war powers efforts in both chambers have failed narrowly to win support from the Republican majorities. Many Republicans have defended the strikes and the Maduro operation as effective uses of US power. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the world is safer with Maduro in US custody and praised the administration for decisive action.
Other Republicans have broken ranks. In the Senate, Senators Rand Paul (KY) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) were the only GOP senators to support earlier war powers measures. Senator Paul stressed that Congress must assert its constitutional authority over declarations of war and military actions, arguing the principle matters for future presidents as well.
Democratic Challenges and Prospects: Democrats face potential defections. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman described the weekend operation as “positive for Venezuela” and praised the military execution, suggesting he may not back a strict limit on the administration’s action. Still, Democrats say they will press the issue — Senator Kaine has indicated plans to introduce similar resolutions aimed at halting hostilities toward other countries Mr. Trump has struck or threatened, including Nigeria, Cuba, Mexico and Colombia.
Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized briefings by administration officials for failing to fully answer members’ questions. Meeks said a previous House war powers resolution he sponsored was defeated and that he is considering filing another.
“I have not seen the justification. We went from drugs to regime change to oil,”
— Rep. Gregory Meeks.
What to Watch: Thursday’s Senate vote is unlikely to pass given the current GOP majority, but it will show where moderates and holdouts stand and could shape further congressional efforts to rein in unilateral military action by the executive branch.
