The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on a resolution Thursday aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from pursuing additional military actions against Venezuela without prior congressional approval. This measure comes in the wake of recent U.S. military operations in the region, including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The vote follows a series of war powers resolutions introduced since the Trump administration intensified military efforts against Venezuela, starting with strikes on Venezuelan boats off the coast in September. Just days after U.S. forces conducted a raid in Caracas to apprehend Maduro, lawmakers are pushing this latest resolution to assert congressional oversight on such actions.
Previous attempts to pass similar measures have been blocked by Republicans, with the most recent vote in November ending 49-51. In that instance, two Republican senators joined Democrats in support. At the time, administration officials assured lawmakers that regime change or strikes on Venezuelan territory were not planned.
Following Maduro’s capture, some lawmakers have expressed concerns that Congress was misled. Democrats have voiced these accusations publicly, while some Republicans have done so privately.
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky and co-sponsor of the resolution, spoke at a news conference about potential shifts in support. “I spoke to at least two Republicans today who did not vote for this resolution previously who are thinking about it,” Paul said. He added, “I can’t guarantee you how they vote, but at least two are thinking about it, and some of them are talking publicly about their misgivings over this.”
Paul appeared alongside Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, another key leader on the resolution. Paul did not name the Republicans in question. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, any defections could tip the balance.
If passed by the Senate, the resolution would mark a notable win for advocates of war powers constraints. However, it faces significant obstacles to becoming law, including approval in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and overcoming an anticipated veto from President Trump. Overriding a veto would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers.
Lawmakers at the news conference recognized these challenges but highlighted potential Republican concerns over the costs and duration of regime change efforts in Venezuela. Trump recently posted on Truth Social about increasing the U.S. military budget to $1.5 trillion from $1 trillion.
Kaine pointed to ongoing U.S. strikes on Venezuelan boats, Trump’s comments about the U.S. “running” Venezuela, and seizures of Venezuelan oil. “This is not a surgical arrest operation by any stretch,” Kaine said.
Under the U.S. Constitution, presidents must secure congressional approval for prolonged military operations. Opponents of the resolution argue that Maduro’s seizure constitutes a law enforcement action rather than military engagement. Maduro, who faces U.S. charges related to drugs and guns and has pleaded not guilty, is set for trial in a U.S. court. They maintain that Trump, as commander-in-chief, can authorize limited actions deemed essential for national security.
