Vote To Block Trump From Striking Narco Boats In Venezuela Fails, As Shutdown Continues
The Senate on Thursday rejected an attempt to block President Donald Trump from carrying out strikes against suspected drug traffickers off the coast of Venezuela without congressional approval.
The war powers Resolutionpresented by Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, failed to succeed the upper chamber by a 51-49 vote, just a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth briefed key members of Congress about the strikes — which some Democrats said lacked details about the operations. The resolution would have requireed Trump “to end the use of ‘U.S. Armed Forces’ for hostilities within or against Venezuela,” citing lack of congressional approval to authorize military involvement in the region.
Two Republican senators joined Kaine’s efforts, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky. The resolution was co-sponsored by Paul and California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff.
The vote came on the 37th day of the government shutdown, which Kaine, Paul and Schiff all voted to extend 14 times.
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 5: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives for a secure briefing with lawmakers and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth November 5, 2025 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
At least 67 people have been killed in 16 strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific since September 2.
Trump confirmed that he allowed The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) conducted deadly covert operations in Venezuela on October 16, prompting Kaine to introduce his legislation that same day. The administration has since moved about 10% of its naval power to the region, according to Foreign policyincluding the USS Gerald R. Ford – the most powerful warship in the US military.
Kaine’s bill cites CIA involvement in Venezuela and the increased presence of U.S. forces and operations in the region, and includes statements from officials indicating that planned action in Venezuela will result in “imminent involvement” by the U.S. military to possibly bring about regime change.
In a session with reporters Thursday, Schiff asked, “Why all this firepower in the Caribbean?”
“You’re bringing in one of the largest warships in the world because you’re concerned about small boats carrying drugs,” Schiff said. “I think it’s really an open secret that this is much more about possible regime change, and if that’s where the administration is headed, if that’s what we’re risking and with it, war, then Congress needs to be heard on this.”
Kaine saw another of his efforts to prevent US strikes on boats off the coast of Venezuela blocked in October, and also received only two Republican votes.
“We are here with this resolution this afternoon because we are tired of abdication. We are tired of seeing Congress abdicate this most solemn power to a president,” Kaine told reporters Thursday. “There is a solution to this problem. Anyone in Congress who thinks we should bomb ships in the Caribbean and the Pacific needs to introduce a solution. [Authorization for the Use of Military Force] and have a debate and vote on it here.
Recent vote also suggests that the hypothetical departure of Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro through a military operation would be welcomed by much of Latin America.
María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who recently won the Nobel Peace Prize, said Bloomberg,”I believe this escalation is the last opportunity for those who still support Maduro to understand that they must withdraw all support from him – and for Maduro himself to understand that this is the last chance to truly facilitate a peaceful and orderly transition, which is what we want and what we have fought for.
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