Senate rejects resolution blocking military action against Venezuela

Hours after the vote, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the 17th known strike on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, Eastern Pacific or the coastline of Latin America.

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday voted down a measure requiring congressional approval for any military action by President Donald Trump against Venezuela.

The bipartisan resolution failed in a 49-51 vote that required a simple majority to pass. Two Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky — joined all 47 Democrats voting in support of the measure.

Hours after the vote, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced another strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. The administration has carried out at least 17 such strikes in the region, including the eastern Pacific, killing at least 69 people.

Trump last month indicated that he would not seek congressional approval for additional military strikes against alleged drug traffickers. Instead, he said, "We’re just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country.”

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., an outspoken critic of administrations of both parties conducting military strikes without congressional approval, said in a statement Thursday that his no vote was “not an endorsement of the Administration’s current course in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.”