Senate Republicans voted down legislation Wednesday aimed at limiting Donald Trump’s ability to use deadly military force against drug cartels. The measure, pushed by Democrats, sought to challenge the White House’s broad interpretation of presidential war powers in the Caribbean.
The vote was narrowly defeated, 48-51, largely along party lines. Two Republicans, Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, supported the resolution, while Democrat John Fetterman opposed it. This marked Congress’s first vote on Trump’s military campaign, which the White House says has destroyed four vessels, killed at least 21 people, and blocked narcotics from entering the United States.
The proposed war powers resolution would have required the president to seek congressional authorization for future military strikes on drug trafficking organizations. The Trump administration argues that cartels are armed combatants posing a direct threat to the U.S., justifying lethal force.
However, the campaign has sparked unease in Congress. Some Republicans are requesting clearer legal justification and operational details from the administration, while Democrats claim the strikes violate U.S. and international law. The debate underscores broader questions about presidential authority and the limits of military action.
“This sends a message when a significant number of legislators say: ‘Hey, this is a bad idea,’” said Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat who sponsored the resolution alongside California Democrat Adam Schiff.
The vote invoked the War Powers Resolution of 1973, intended to reinforce congressional authority over declarations of war. Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, spoke in favor of the resolution, arguing Congress must not allow the executive branch to act as “judge, jury, and executioner.”
While only Paul publicly spoke in support, other Republicans expressed concerns. Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota acknowledged unease in the party about the strikes but noted he was “comfortable with at least the plausibility of their legal argument.” He added that intelligence and military leadership for Central and South America had not been present during briefings, leaving questions unanswered.
Democrats emphasized gaps in the administration’s information. Schiff highlighted that lawmakers lacked details on why vessels were destroyed instead of intercepted and what intelligence confirmed drug shipments. “We just have little or no information about who was onboard these ships or what rationale was used,” he said.
The administration has reportedly added cartels to a list of “narco-terrorist” organizations eligible for military strikes, but Democrats said Congress has not been shown the complete list. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that weakening congressional oversight is a “real and present threat to our democracy.”
Senator Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, lobbied Republican senators to oppose the bill, arguing that cartels behave like governing entities in parts of the Caribbean. “These drug-trafficking organizations are a direct threat to U.S. security,” Rubio said, emphasizing the president’s responsibility as commander-in-chief.
Despite the vote’s failure, Democrats stressed that U.S. military operations in the Caribbean could escalate tensions with Venezuela and risk unintended conflict. Schiff cautioned that unchecked strikes might draw the country into war without sufficient congressional deliberation.
The narrow vote highlights the ongoing clash between congressional oversight and presidential authority, with future military actions against drug cartels remaining a contentious and closely watched issue.
