House Democrats have introduced two war powers resolutions intended to require congressional authorization for any U.S. military actions targeting Venezuela, following heightened tensions with the nation.
The first resolution, proposed by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), would mandate that U.S. armed forces be removed from hostilities with any presidentially designated terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere unless Congress explicitly authorizes military action.
The second resolution, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), would require congressional approval for any military hostilities within or against Venezuela.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stated during a House floor debate: “When war-making power devolves to one person, liberty dissolves. Congress needs to vote before the President attempts regime change.” He further noted that “this is about oil and regime change” and that “we’ve already been down this road with Venezuela with nothing to show for it.”
McGovern’s resolution has three Republican co-sponsors: Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Don Bacon of Nebraska.
Rep. Meeks criticized the administration’s actions in the Caribbean, stating: “It doesn’t seem to be just about narcotics trafficking.” He pointed to President Trump’s pardons of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández and Ross Ulbricht, who operated the Silk Road drug marketplace, as evidence that the strikes are part of a broader regime change effort. Meeks added: “It’s not about drugs, it’s about regime change, and it’s about oil.”
The resolutions follow President Trump’s announcement of a “total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela.” The White House has argued that the strikes do not constitute hostilities under the 1973 War Powers Resolution.
House and Senate Armed Services Committee members received detailed briefings on recent military operations. However, Rep. Meeks noted members received inadequate explanations for why Congress was not consulted prior to the strikes.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated he did not know if the administration had “publicly stated” a desire for regime change but added: “Maduro is a cancer on that continent.”
The Trump administration has not sought congressional authorization for its actions in Venezuela, and Republicans have previously opposed similar measures. The resolutions are expected to face strong opposition from Republican leaders.