Senate rejects effort to curb Trump's power to target alleged drug boats
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Trump at the White House ion Sept. 30. Photo by Hu Yousong/Xinhua via Getty Images
A measure to stop President Trump's strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean failed to advance the Senate on Wednesday, despite some Republican support.
Why it matters: Congress isn't standing in the way of Trump's growing military campaign against alleged drug traffickers off the coast of Venezuela.
- A bipartisan War Powers Act measure to restrict Trump's authority failed 48-51 on Wednesday, with Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joining Democrats in support. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was the lone Democratic "no" vote.
- Critics of Trump's offensive in the Caribbean argue that the president doesn't have the authority to carry out the strikes without authorization from Congress.
- The resolution was led by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Paul.
The big picture: The vote on Wednesday is part of a broader showdown between the White House and Congress over Trump's unilateral military actions over the last year.
- The Senate in June rejected a similar measure which would have restricted Trump's strikes against Iran.
- Trump has garnered the backup of top Republicans on the Hill, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) going as far as arguing the War Powers Act may be unconstitutional.
What they're saying: Paul has been a notable outlier in the GOP, repeatedly and publicly railing against the efforts.
- "The U.S. should not be blowing up boats without even knowing who's on them. There's no due process in that — no names, no evidence, no oversight," he posted on X Wednesday.
Between the lines: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Republican senators behind closed doors Wednesday, and included an overview of the strategy for targeting cartels off of Venezuela.
- "I hope they'll vote it down," Rubio told reporters on the war powers resolution after the lunch. "These drug trafficking organizations are direct threat to the safety and security of the United States."
- "Because of the the President's core Article II powers in the designation, if they find them on the open seas, they're going to take them out," Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) said about Rubio's update to senators.
