A group of five Republican senators broke ranks Thursday to join all Democrats in advancing a resolution designed to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to authorize additional military actions in Venezuela without congressional approval.
The 52‑47 procedural vote represents a rare instance of GOP dissent and highlights growing unease among some Republicans over unchecked presidential authority in foreign military operations.
The resolution, opposed by Trump, would require congressional authorization for any future strikes or deployment of U.S. forces in Venezuela.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, one of the Republicans voting in favor, said the measure ensures Congress has a say in potential combat operations.
“If the president should determine, ‘You know what? I need to put troops on the ground of Venezuela,’ I think that would require Congress to weigh in,” Hawley said.
Joining Hawley were Rand Paul (KY), Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Todd Young (IN). Each cited concerns about transparency and the limits of unilateral executive action.
Collins emphasized that while she supported Trump’s initial operation, extended military involvement should not occur without legislative oversight.
Murkowski and Young noted insufficient communication from the administration as a major factor in their decision, Fox 5 reports.
Democrats have repeatedly attempted to advance war powers resolutions during Trump’s military escalation in Venezuela.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine (D), sponsor of Thursday’s measure, said Congress must reclaim oversight and remove secrecy from critical military decisions, according to CBS News.
“It’s time for Congress to assert its control over military action of this kind,” Kaine said.
Trump sharply criticized the Republican defectors, labeling them “RINOs” and asserting that their votes weaken American self-defense and national security.
He reiterated that the War Powers Act is unconstitutional and said the senators “should never be elected to office again.”
Thursday’s vote is procedural. For the resolution to move forward, it must pass a second Senate vote requiring a 60‑vote threshold and then clear the House before reaching Trump, who has pledged a veto.
Legal and political experts note that passage is unlikely, but the vote represents a symbolic check on presidential military authority and a rare example of bipartisan concern within the GOP.
The vote follows the U.S. military’s nighttime operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, part of a campaign targeting alleged drug-smuggling networks at sea.
Trump announced afterward that Venezuela will provide 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States at market price.
Debate in Congress is extending beyond Venezuela.
Some Republicans, like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, support broad presidential discretion in military matters, while other lawmakers, including Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego (D), are preparing measures to limit unilateral action in Greenland and other strategic regions.
Analysts suggest these debates may influence U.S. military policy for years to come.
Thursday’s outcome underscores an unusual moment of Republican dissent in the Senate and highlights growing efforts to assert legislative oversight over U.S. military actions abroad.
While experts say the resolution is unlikely to become law, it sets a precedent for monitoring executive power and signals that some GOP senators are willing to challenge Trump on foreign military decisions.
