House lawmakers voted Thursday to reject a war powers resolution that would have limited President Donald Trump’s ability to launch new military action in or against Venezuela.
The measure, led by Rep. Jim McGovern and backed by Rep. Thomas Massie, failed 215-215. Two Republicans, including Massie and Rep. Don Bacon, joined Democrats in support.
The vote became a dramatic floor scramble when Speaker Mike Johnson held the vote open for more than 20 minutes to give Rep. Wesley Hunt, who was on his way from Dulles airport, time to arrive, as Democrats briefly held a one-vote edge. “This is serious shit. Close the vote,” Rep. Pat Ryan yelled as the tally was held open.
If it had passed, the resolution would have required Trump to seek congressional approval before expanding U.S. military operations tied to Venezuela. Supporters of the measure said Congress needs to reclaim its constitutional role over when the U.S. goes to war.
“That’s our damn job,” McGovern, a Democrat, said during floor debate ahead of the vote. “If you’re going to expand and utilize our military again, you come to Congress and ask for a vote.”
Most Republicans argued that the war powers push has no merit because there is no war in Venezuela.
“The U.S. is not at war with Venezuela,” Rep. Rick Crawford said before the vote. “None of the actions taken by the Trump administration to execute an arrest warrant on a criminal constitute war.”
The House vote came after two similar House war powers measures failed in December, and after a Senate push earlier this month briefly gained steam before collapsing. Five Republicans initially helped advance the Senate’s latest war powers resolution earlier this month, but two of them helped kill the measure on procedural grounds after pressure from Trump.
The Venezuela war powers push took off after months of U.S. boat strikes and military buildup off the country’s coast, plus the U.S. raid that captured Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan leader. The White House has also pledged to “run” the country and manage its oil sector for the foreseeable future.
“The executive’s military exercise to capture the leader of Venezuela represents one of the most blatant usurpations of congressional authority we have seen in modern times,” Massie said ahead of the vote. “If we ignore it, we are not merely acquiescing to executive overreach. We are rendering impotent our branch of government.”
Trump officials argued the operation is covered by the president’s existing authority, citing a classified Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel memo. They have also described the Maduro raid as a law-enforcement mission rather than an act of war.
Democrats said they will continue to push for war powers votes, arguing that the measures can still prompt debate and elicit concessions.
After the Senate effort collapsed, the Trump administration said it would seek authorization if it planned to “introduce U.S. armed forces into hostilities in major military operations in Venezuela.”
However, it’s unclear how broadly the White House defines “major.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio also agreed to testify publicly before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the coming weeks.
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