Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Senate is set to vote next week on a war powers resolution that would require President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval before conducting further military action against Venezuela, following the administration’s operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said he will force the vote when lawmakers return from the holiday recess, arguing that Trump’s actions amount to an unconstitutional expansion of executive power. While the measure would not retroactively block the Maduro operation, it would limit the president’s authority to launch additional strikes without explicit authorization from Congress.
The vote will serve as a key test of Republican support for Trump’s approach. Previous war powers efforts aimed at restricting U.S. military action in Venezuela have failed, largely due to GOP opposition. In November, a similar resolution sponsored by Kaine, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was rejected, with only Paul and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voting in favor among Republicans.
Some GOP lawmakers have since signaled they want more information. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said senators expect further briefings from the administration, framing the Venezuela operation as part of a broader counternarcotics strategy. House and Senate leaders have indicated the White House is arranging classified briefings.
Democrats argue the issue centers on constitutional process, not policy preference. Schiff warned that acting without congressional approval risks wider regional instability and contradicts promises to avoid new wars. Whether that argument resonates with skeptical Republicans could determine the outcome of the vote.
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