The House of Representatives rejected two Democrat-led war powers resolutions to block military action against drug cartels and Venezuela without congressional approval. House Democrats To Force Votes On War Powers Resolutions As Tension With Venezuela Intensifies The first measure would have removed U.S. armed forces “from hostilities with any presidentially designated terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere,” unless Congress authorizes military action. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), failed in a 210-216 vote. Two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (KY) and Don Bacon (NE), voted in favor of the resolution with most Democrats. 210-216: House defeated Foreign Affairs Top Democrat Gregory Meeks war powers resolution to block unauthorized U.S. military action on "presidentially designated terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere" including U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats in the… pic.twitter.com/pv9Er9XyQh — Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) December 17, 2025 The second measure, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), would have removed the armed forces “from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.” The resolution failed in a 211-213 vote. The Venezuela War Powers resolution has FAILED in a vote of 211-213, with nine members not voting. pic.twitter.com/LWfNxRNnqp — Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) December 17, 2025 The Hill shared further: McGovern’s resolution failed 211-213. Bacon, Massie and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) voted with most Democrats in favor of the resolution. Cuellar joined all other Republicans in voting against it, while Gonzalez did not vote despite opposing the other war powers resolution. The drug boat attacks, which began on Sept. 2, have become a flashpoint in Trump’s aggressive war on drugs, pitting the administration’s Republican allies — who are defending the military intervention as an appropriate strategy for protecting national security — against critics who say the president lacks the authority to conduct such operations without the explicit approval of Congress. Trump’s approach to Venezuela has been equally controversial, and his blockade of oil tankers has reportedly prompted Venezuelan leaders to order naval escorts for the vessels. “I think it’s immoral — not just a strategic failure, but a moral failure, that we have a president beating the drums of war with[out] so much as a vote from the House of Representatives,” McGovern said on the House floor. “This is not ‘America First.’” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other GOP leaders have sided squarely with Trump on those contentious issues. But the two Democrats were able to force their resolutions to the floor using House rules that allow even members of the minority party to stage “privileged” measures. "As I said on the House floor, I oppose the War Powers Resolution that would block the President from acting against terrorist organizations in Venezuela and across our hemisphere," Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) said. "It sends the wrong message at the wrong time. We must stand firm and confront narco-terrorists like Nicolás Maduro, not tie the President’s hands. I urge my colleagues to vote NO," she added. As I said on the House floor, I oppose the War Powers Resolution that would block the President from acting against terrorist organizations in Venezuela and across our hemisphere. It sends the wrong message at the wrong time. We must stand firm and confront narco-terrorists like… pic.twitter.com/Ji66HoVVqB — Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) December 17, 2025 Chron noted: They were the first votes in the House on Trump's military campaign in Central and South America. A majority of Republicans in the Senate had previously voted against similar resolutions, and Trump would almost certainly veto them if they were to pass Congress. But Democrats forced the votes as a way to bring up a debate about the military campaign and force Republicans to go on the record about supporting it. Republican leaders have increasingly expressed support for Trump's campaign, even as it potentially escalates into a direct confrontation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said earlier Wednesday that he didn't know whether the Trump administration had “publicly stated” that they wanted regime change, but “I would certainly not have a problem if that was their position.”