- The push comes as US forces intensify operations targeting suspected drug-carrying vessels linked to the Nicolás Maduro government
- Republicans have also begun questioning the administration’s handling of the Venezuela strategy
- Lawmakers warned that Trump may be conducting a months-long military campaign without congressional authorisation
A coalition of US lawmakers from both major parties on Tuesday renewed efforts to block President Donald Trump from launching any military action against Venezuela without congressional approval.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the legislators issued a stern warning that unilateral strikes would endanger American troops and violate constitutional safeguards on war powers.
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Senators Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff and Rand Paul said they would immediately trigger a war powers resolution if the administration proceeds with a strike inside Venezuela.
Their move follows similar concerns raised in the House, where Representatives Jim McGovern, Joaquin Castro and Thomas Massie filed a companion measure.
The push comes as US forces intensify operations targeting suspected drug-carrying vessels linked to the Nicolás Maduro government. Since early September, at least 21 strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific have reportedly killed over 80 people, fuelling concerns in Washington about the legality and oversight of the missions.
Lawmakers warned that Trump may be conducting a months-long military campaign without congressional authorization. Their alarm deepened after a Washington Post report alleged that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered troops to fire a second time on survivors of an initial strike, a move critics said could breach international law.
Republican Senator Mike Rounds admitted that “there may be a problem” if the reports prove true, stressing that Congress must establish the legal boundaries of the operation. Several other Republicans have also begun questioning the administration’s handling of the Venezuela strategy.
The White House, however, maintains that the strikes were authorized under existing rules of engagement and were carried out in international waters to protect US interests. Hegseth insisted that Admiral Frank Bradley acted within his authority when he approved the second strike.
Despite repeated attempts by both parties, Congress has so far failed to force the Trump administration to seek approval for military action in Venezuela, with recent resolutions blocked in the Senate.
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