Exclusive: Congress needs to hear more about Venezuela operation, GOP senator says
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) speaks at the Axios Future of Defense Summit on Oct. 22. Screenshot: Axios.
Congress has been left in the dark about the U.S. military strikes off the coast of Venezuela, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said on Wednesday at Axios' Future of Defense Summit.
Why it matters: The U.S. has conducted multiple strikes in the Caribbean Sea as part of an operation aimed at stopping drugs and possibly toppling Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, but some in Congress have questioned the strikes.
- The seven strikes have killed at least 32 people and have mostly been announced by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth soon after they happened.
What he's saying: "Congress isn't hearing enough — in any form, including a public forum," Young told Axios' Stef Kight in Washington, D.C.
- Young said the legal ramifications of military actions need to be discussed with lawmakers.
- "If there's been any takeaway from me from the last roughly 25 years of congressional action and inaction — it's not that Congress needs to be more hands-off, that Congress needs to get out of the way."
- "I think Congress needs to go further. Rather than just asserting our ability to authorize military force — which we certainly need to do — we also need to officially bring to close these conflicts and make clear that we have constitutional prerogatives that need to be consistently asserted."
What's next: Young said he's reached out to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hegseth for a meeting to discuss the strikes. He's also asked the Foreign Relations Committee to hold oversight hearings on the matter.
- "We need to learn more," he said.
Zoom out: Young has been at the forefront of American military moves as of late. He recently called on Trump to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a potential game-changer in the war against Russia.
- "I think he really needs to ratchet up the pressure more, not just through sanctions, ... but also by delivering the long-term weapons, standoff weapons that are really needed. I think that's what Putin responds to," Young said Wednesday of Trump.
Over the last few months, Young has worked on a package of AI and biotech bills that echo Trump's AI action plan.
- Young, who chairs the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, based the bills on findings of a report released in April.
- The NSCEB broadly offers the president and the Armed Services reports on how biotech can shape Defense Department activities.
Go deeper: Admiral overseeing Venezuelan boat strikes steps down
