The Senate voted 51-50 on Wednesday to block a resolution that would have required President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval before using military force in Venezuela.
At a Glance
- Two Republicans switched sides after White House pressure
- Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote
- Resolution initially advanced 52-47 last week
- Why it matters: The vote removes a major congressional check on potential U.S. military action in Venezuela
The dramatic reversal came after Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Todd Young, R-Ind., flipped their positions. Both lawmakers had voted last week to advance the resolution requiring Trump to obtain prior congressional authorization for military strikes against Venezuela.
Trump launched a public pressure campaign against the five Republicans who initially supported the measure. Last week, he declared they “should never be elected to office again.”
How the Votes Shifted
The resolution initially appeared poised for passage after advancing 52-47 last week. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., led the bipartisan effort to assert congressional war powers.
The final Wednesday vote broke down as follows:
- 47 Democrats supported moving forward with the resolution
- 3 Republicans joined them: Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine
- 50 Republicans voted to remove “privilege” status, effectively killing the measure
Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to scuttle the war powers resolution.
Why Hawley Changed His Vote
Hawley cited a letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the reason for his reversal. Rubio assured him that no U.S. ground troops currently operate in Venezuela.
The secretary also pledged that if the administration sought to deploy ground forces, “they would come to Congress for congressional authorization,” according to Hawley.
Young’s Justification
Young released a statement explaining his changed position after conversations with senior national security officials.
“After numerous conversations with senior national security officials, I have received assurances that there are no American troops in Venezuela,” Young said. “I’ve also received a commitment that if President Trump were to determine American forces are needed in major military operations in Venezuela, the Administration will come to Congress in advance to ask for an authorization of force.”
Democratic Opposition
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., championed the war powers measure as necessary to check presidential military authority.
“The American people don’t want Donald Trump sending our troops into harm’s way without so much as a debate in Congress,” Schumer said before the vote.
He warned about the administration’s broader foreign policy approach: “Donald Trump is turning the Caribbean into a dangerous powder keg-and Congress must rein him in before one mistake ignites a larger, more unstable conflict. So, the Senate needs to exert its constitutional role when it comes to the use of military force.”
Broader Implications
The vote highlights the reluctance among Republican lawmakers to challenge Trump on military matters. The president has threatened further action in Venezuela while escalating rhetoric against Iran and Greenland.
The failed resolution means Trump retains broad authority to order military action in Venezuela without seeking prior congressional approval. The White House has given no indication it plans to deploy ground troops, but the episode demonstrates how the administration can sway Republican senators through public pressure and private assurances.
Congress last formally declared war in 1942. Since then, presidents have used various authorizations and their constitutional authority as commander-in-chief to order military operations without explicit congressional approval for specific actions.
The Venezuela situation remains fluid as the administration continues diplomatic and economic pressure on the Maduro government. Military options remain on the table, according to administration officials, though no specific operations have been announced.
Key Takeaways:
- The Senate blocked a measure that would have required congressional approval for military action in Venezuela
- Two Republican senators switched votes after White House pressure
- The administration provided written assurances about not deploying ground troops without congressional approval
- The vote demonstrates Trump’s continued influence over congressional Republicans on national security matters
