The House of Representatives rejected two Democratic-led war powers resolutions designed to restrict presidential military actions against drug cartels and Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization.
The first resolution, introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), would have required U.S. armed forces to withdraw from hostilities with any presidentially designated terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere unless Congress authorized military action. The measure failed in a 210-216 vote.
Two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (KY) and Don Bacon (NE), voted in favor of the resolution alongside most Democrats.
The second resolution, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), would have required U.S. armed forces to avoid hostilities within or against Venezuela unless Congress authorized such actions. This measure failed in a 211-213 vote.
McGovern’s resolution was supported by Bacon, Massie and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), while Republican Rep. Cuellar voted against it. Rep. Gonzalez did not vote on the second resolution despite opposing the first war powers resolution.
The drug boat attacks, which began on September 2, have become a flashpoint in President Trump’s aggressive campaign targeting narcotics and Venezuela. The administration’s allies defend the military interventions as necessary for national security, while critics argue the president lacks constitutional authority to conduct such operations without explicit congressional approval.
McGovern stated on the House floor: “I think it’s immoral — not just a strategic failure, but a moral failure — that we have a president beating the drums of war with[out] so much as a vote from the House of Representatives. This is not ‘America First.’”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other GOP leaders have publicly aligned with Trump on these contentious issues. However, Democrats forced the votes through House rules that allow even minority members to introduce “privileged” measures.
Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) opposed the war powers resolution: “As I said on the House floor, I oppose the War Powers Resolution that would block the President from acting against terrorist organizations in Venezuela and across our hemisphere. It sends the wrong message at the wrong time. We must stand firm and confront narco-terrorists like Nicolás Maduro, not tie the President’s hands.”
The votes marked the first parliamentary action on Trump’s military campaign in Central and South America. A majority of Republicans in the Senate had previously voted against similar resolutions, and Trump would almost certainly veto them if they passed Congress. Democrats used House rules to bring up a debate about the military campaign and compel Republican support.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated he was unaware whether the administration had publicly expressed a desire for regime change in Venezuela but added: “I would certainly not have a problem if that was their position.”