WASHINGTON – Cabinet officials Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth are scheduled to brief Congress in separate sessions on Tuesday regarding U.S. military strikes off the coast of Venezuela.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other lawmakers, including some Republicans, have called for greater transparency on the Trump administration’s “Operation Southern Spear,” a campaign involving 25 strikes on suspected drug vessels since September that have reportedly killed at least 95 people. Concern intensified following a September 2 follow-up attack on survivors, which critics say may have violated international law. Schumer announced the Senate meeting for Monday, and Rubio’s public schedule indicates the briefings will begin around 10 a.m. EST.
The congressional sessions follow confirmation from U.S. Southern Command of another round of attacks on alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific near Venezuela, resulting in eight deaths. SouthCom shared video footage of the strikes in a social media post.
Some members of Congress are pursuing a War Powers Resolution that would require legislative approval for future military actions against Venezuela. The proposal has more than 30 bipartisan co-sponsors, though it remains uncertain if it will reach a full House vote.
In the Oval Office on Monday, President Donald Trump defended the campaign and suggested a potential escalation, stating, “We’re going to start hitting them on land, which is a lot easier to do, frankly.”