The U.S. Senate has advanced a war powers resolution aimed at restricting President Donald Trump from launching further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, marking a rare bipartisan challenge to presidential authority.
The measure was approved in a 52–47 vote on Thursday, with several Republicans joining Democrats to push it forward.
The resolution follows a controversial U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, an action that lawmakers say was carried out without adequate consultation with Congress.
The surprise operation raised alarms on Capitol Hill, with senators from both parties questioning whether the president exceeded his constitutional powers as commander in chief.
Sponsored by lawmakers including Senator Tim Kaine and Senator Rand Paul, the resolution invokes the War Powers Act, which gives Congress authority over decisions to engage in armed conflict.
Supporters argue the move is necessary to prevent the United States from being drawn into a prolonged or unauthorized war and to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional role in approving military action.
President Trump and his allies have criticized the vote, arguing that it weakens national security and limits the president’s ability to respond quickly to threats.
Trump has signaled he would veto the measure if it reaches his desk, meaning Congress would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override the veto.
While the resolution has cleared a key hurdle in the Senate, its future remains uncertain as it still requires approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Even so, the vote sends a strong political signal of growing concern in Congress over U.S. involvement in Venezuela and the balance of war-making powers.