Overview
- The War Powers resolution failed 48–51, with Republicans Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski voting yes and Democrat John Fetterman voting no.
- The administration reports four strikes since early September that killed 21 people after declaring a non-international armed conflict with cartels and designating groups such as Tren de Aragua as terrorist organizations.
- Lawmakers from both parties say briefings provided strike videos but no underlying intelligence, no identities of those killed, and no rationale for destroying vessels instead of standard Coast Guard interdictions.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio lobbied Republicans to oppose the measure and the White House signaled a veto, as Trump indicates operations will continue and has floated potential land strikes.
- Tensions in the region are rising, with Venezuela condemning U.S. actions and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro saying the latest vessel hit was Colombian with Colombian citizens aboard.