Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan initiative to prevent ongoing U.S. attacks against alleged drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela’s coast.
Democrats forced a vote on the issue under the War Powers Act. The measure failed in the Senate by a 48-51 vote, lacking the necessary support to advance.
The resolution, led by Senators Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia, would have barred the U.S. military from engaging in hostilities with “any non-state organization involved in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and related activities” without Congressional authorization.
“There has been no Congressional authorization to use force in this manner,” Schiff stated, warning that the attacks risk escalating into open conflict with Venezuela. “I believe this is clearly unconstitutional.”
Over the past two months, the U.S. military has struck at least four vessels in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in 21 deaths.
The administration has claimed it is targeting narcoterrorists from well-known drug-trafficking gangs in Venezuela, and President Donald Trump has notified Congress that the U.S. is engaged in armed conflict with these alleged drug traffickers.
The Trump administration has designated several drug cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, and El Salvador’s MS-13.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was on Capitol Hill Wednesday to meet with Republican senators, told reporters the president has the authority to order the strikes without Congressional approval.
The attacks in the Caribbean have sparked bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers questioning their legality. Congress, which holds the exclusive authority under the Constitution to declare war, has not authorized the use of military force against drug cartels.
Democratic lawmakers have argued that the Pentagon has not provided conclusive evidence to justify military action.
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president must consult Congress before deploying armed forces into hostilities unless there is a declaration of war or other Congressional authorization.
If Congress does not authorize the use of military force, the president must withdraw forces within 90 days.
The law was enacted in response to the Vietnam War to limit the president’s ability to wage war without Congressional consent.
Senator Rand Paul (Republican of Kentucky) also criticized the strikes as “extrajudicial executions,” at times directly confronting administration officials.
“Is it too much to ask that we know the names of those we kill before doing so, that we know what evidence exists of their guilt?” Paul asked on the Senate floor, calling the administration’s argument “madness.”
Paul and fellow Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski were the only two to break party lines in supporting the measure, which failed 48-51 in Wednesday’s vote.
One Democrat, John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), voted against it.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on X that the latest vessel struck by the U.S. military was Colombian and carrying Colombian citizens, contradicting White House claims.
Image: Opinion
