A bipartisan group of U.S. senators moved on Wednesday to block any military strike on Venezuela unless Congress approves it first. Their action came after President Donald Trump said several times this week that a land operation against Venezuelan territory will begin “very soon.”
The administration has already escalated pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. Since early September, U.S. forces have hit at least 21 vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. Officials say those boats transported drugs. The strikes killed at least 83 people and formed part of Trump’s wider military buildup around Venezuela. Maduro denies any role in drug trafficking.
Lawmakers warn the White House against acting without approval
Trump’s latest comments prompted Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer and Adam Schiff, along with Republican Senator Rand Paul, to introduce a war powers resolution. They had planned to wait until the administration launched an attack. However, Trump’s public remarks convinced them to act immediately.
Schiff said the country faces the risk of entering a conflict without legal grounds. He argued that Trump cannot send U.S. troops into battle without Congress authorizing force. He also warned that a war with Venezuela would endanger thousands of American service members.
Under Senate rules, a war powers resolution forces a vote within days. The move sets up a direct confrontation between Congress and the White House over who decides when the United States goes to war.
Lawmakers from both parties say they want to avoid another situation in which the executive branch uses outdated authorizations to justify new conflicts. As tensions with Venezuela rise, they insist Congress must take the lead before any military action begins.
