GOP Senators Fail to Take Action to Stop Trump’s Attacks on Alleged Drug Boats

Republican senators approved a measure to stop US military strikes against alleged boats off the coast of Venezuela that President Trump’s administration says are smuggling drugs into the country.

The resolution, led by Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff (California) and Tim Kaine (Virginia), failed to pass by a vote of 48 to 51 on Wednesday.

The measure would have prevented the US military from removing ships from Venezuela that the president said were smuggling fentanyl into the United States.

“We are here today to ask our colleagues to join us in this nonpartisan vote, in this assertion of Congress’s authority to declare or refuse to declare war, or to authorize or refuse to authorize the use of force,” Schiff said Wednesday on the Senate floor before the vote.

The California senator added: “We have been careful and thoughtful in crafting this resolution, which does not affect the United States’ ability to target terrorist groups covered by existing congressional authorizations for the use of military force.”

The US military has carried out four strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea since early September, killing 21 people, according to the Trump administration. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth said the latest strike, which occurred earlier this month, destroyed a boat allegedly carrying drugs in international waters, killing four people on board.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed on Wednesday that the latest boat struck by the Trump administration was Colombian and was carrying Colombian citizens. The Hill has reached out to the Colombian Embassy in Washington, D.C. for further comment.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, objected to the decision and said the administration’s four strikes were “legally sound.”

“President Trump stated very clearly and repeatedly during the campaign that he would attack these cartels if necessary,” Cotton said before the vote. “This is simply to keep his word to the American people. The President’s strikes were also legally sound and very limited.” “Because it has been going on for less than 60 days. It does not even fall within the threshold of the War Powers Resolution.”

Last week, the president announced that the United States is now at war with drug cartels that the administration has designated as terrorist organizations, providing the legal basis for strikes on ships in the Caribbean Sea.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measure was unconstitutional and could endanger the lives of children and others.

“This resolution seeks to strip President Trump of his constitutional authority to protect Americans by authorizing military strikes against drug terrorists, Houthis, and other Iranian proxies. This is dangerous — it puts our children, citizens, soldiers, and allies at risk,” Rubio said Wednesday on X.

Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) were the only GOP lawmakers to support Wednesday’s proposal, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote against the resolution.

“The United States shouldn’t be blowing up boats without even knowing who’s on board,” Paul said Wednesday on X. “There’s no due process in that — no names, no evidence, no oversight.”