Senate to vote on war powers resolution aimed at blocking U.S. strikes on Venezuela [View all]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: November 6, 2025 / 12:16 PM EST


Washington — The Senate will take up a war powers resolution on Thursday aimed at blocking President Trump from conducting strikes against Venezuela, with a bipartisan group of senators forcing the issue as they warn that a continued campaign against alleged drug smugglers in the region could escalate.

The resolution, led by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, would direct the president "to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force." The resolution has 15 cosponsors, including Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California and Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. The vote is scheduled for 5 p.m.

"Congress should not cede its power to any president," Kaine told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday. "If colleagues believe that a war against the narco-traffickers in the ocean or a war against Venezuela is a good idea, then put an [authorization of military force] on the table and debate and vote it, but don't just hand the power over to an executive. That runs against everything that this nation was founded on."

The U.S. military is building up forces in waters off South America and has conducted 16 strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific since Sept. 2, killing at least 67 people. In the sixth strike, two people survived. Kaine introduced the bipartisan resolution on Oct. 16, one day after Mr. Trump confirmed that he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-war-powers-vote-venezuela-drug-boats-military-strikes/