US Officials Brief Congress on Venezuela Military Operation

The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior officials briefed congressional leaders on a recent military operation in Venezuela late on Monday. This briefing occurred against a backdrop of rising concerns regarding President Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy, particularly the potential for a new wave of U.S. intervention in the South American nation without adequate consultation with lawmakers.

Congress Reacts to Military Actions

Republican leaders emerged from the closed-door session at the Capitol largely supportive of Trump’s decision to forcibly remove President Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, many Democrats expressed significant uncertainty about the administration’s strategy. The military operation coincides with a U.S. naval presence off the Venezuelan coast and calls for American companies to reinvest in the country’s struggling oil sector.

A war powers resolution aimed at restricting U.S. military action in Venezuela without congressional approval is expected to be voted on this week in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that the U.S. does not anticipate deploying ground troops, stating, “We don’t expect troops on the ground.” He highlighted a need for a shift in Venezuela’s governance to curb narcoterrorism and drug trafficking that threatens U.S. interests.

“This is not a regime change. This is a demand for a change in behaviour,” Mr. Johnson said.

Johnson underscored the administration’s strategy of economic pressure, pointing out that Venezuela’s oil exports have been seized as a means to induce change. He expressed confidence that this approach would lead to a new government in a “very short order.”

Questions Raised by Congressional Leaders

In contrast, Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised critical questions about the implications of U.S. actions. “What is the cost? How much is this going to cost the United States of America?” she questioned after the briefing.

The briefing lasted approximately two hours and followed a surprise military move that caught many congressional leaders off guard. Administration officials answered various inquiries, including concerns about troop deployment and the role of Venezuelan opposition leaders, who appear to have been sidelined as current Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assumed the interim presidency.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Air Force General Dan Caine, and Attorney General Pam Bondi also participated in the classified session, which was intended for the “gang of eight” – a group that includes key leaders from both parties overseeing national security.

After the meeting, Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, expressed frustration, saying, “I wish I could tell you yes, but I can’t,” when asked if he had clarity on the situation in Venezuela.

Some leaders, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking Democrat Richard Durbin, criticized the exclusion of their committee from the briefing, arguing that their oversight of the Justice Department should have warranted their inclusion.

Earlier in the day, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Trump’s actions in Venezuela could signal a broader, potentially dangerous shift in U.S. foreign policy. He cautioned against a return to “endless wars,” remarking that the American public did not endorse such a path.

Schumer concluded that the briefing raised more questions than it resolved, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy regarding U.S. involvement in Venezuela and beyond.