Congress is gearing up for a showdown with President Trump over his bold military strike in Venezuela.
According to The Hill, the Senate is poised to vote next week on a bipartisan resolution to halt Trump’s ongoing military actions against Venezuela, following a U.S. operation that nabbed President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday.
For hardworking taxpayers across America, this isn’t just a far-off foreign policy spat—it’s a direct hit to their wallets with potential billions in military spending and the risk of economic blowback from a destabilized region. If this escalates, the financial burden of another overseas conflict could weigh heavily on families already stretched thin. From a conservative standpoint, we can’t ignore the need to scrutinize every dollar and decision, ensuring no administration sidesteps accountability.
This war powers resolution, backed by a coalition including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Adam Schiff of California, isn’t just symbolic—it’s privileged, meaning Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota can’t block it from hitting the floor. With a simple majority needed to pass, it’s a real shot at reining in executive overreach.
Democrats are expected to vote in lockstep for the measure, joined by libertarian-leaning Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, but the math still needs three more Republicans to hit the magic 51 votes. Moderate Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and populist conservative Josh Hawley of Missouri are seen as potential swing votes, given their past skepticism of unchecked U.S. military adventures abroad. Let’s hope they remember the folks back home who want oversight, not open-ended wars.
“Acting without Congressional approval or the buy-in of the public, Trump risks plunging a hemisphere into chaos and has broken his promise to end wars instead of starting them,” said Senator Adam Schiff of California in a statement. Look, Schiff’s got a point about promises, but let’s not pretend the left hasn’t cheered plenty of interventions when it suited their agenda—where’s the consistency?
Rewinding to early Saturday, U.S. forces launched an attack on Venezuela, culminating in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro—a move that’s got both sides buzzing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota called it “an important first step to bring him to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States” on the social platform X. Fair enough, but justice shouldn’t mean bypassing Congress for a blank check on military action.
Thune also praised the operation, saying, “I am grateful for the brave men and women of our armed forces who carried out this necessary action,” on X. No argument there—our troops deserve respect—but conservatives should still demand a full accounting of why this couldn’t wait for a congressional green light.
The Senate vote next week could be a turning point, but even if it passes, the road ahead is rocky. Any resolution needs House approval and Trump’s signature to become law, and let’s be real—Trump is likely to veto anything clipping his wings as commander in chief.
Speaking of the House, they’ve already stumbled on similar efforts to curb Trump’s military moves against Venezuela. Last month, a proposal by Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts to force the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities failed by a tight 213-211 vote. A separate measure by Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, targeting strikes on Venezuelan boats suspected of drug smuggling, also tanked 216-210.
These House votes show just how divided Congress is on reasserting its constitutional role over war powers. From a conservative lens, it’s frustrating to see lawmakers waffle when the stakes are this high—our system of checks and balances isn’t just a suggestion.
Even if the Senate resolution squeaks through, overriding a presidential veto looks like a pipe dream, with neither chamber boasting the votes to hit the two-thirds threshold. That means this fight might end up as more of a symbolic jab than a knockout punch.
For many on the right, this isn’t about liking or disliking Trump—it’s about principle. The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war, and sidestepping that risks setting a dangerous precedent for future administrations, red or blue.
Regional stability in the Western Hemisphere hangs in the balance, and conservatives who value America First policies should be wary of entanglements that drain resources without clear justification. Let’s support our troops by ensuring their missions have the full backing of the people’s representatives, not just one man in the Oval Office.
As the Senate vote looms, all eyes are on those key Republican holdouts. Will they stand for constitutional restraint, or let executive power run unchecked? For the sake of accountability and the American taxpayer, let’s hope they choose wisely.
