BOSTON — As the Trump administration edges closer to a confrontation with Venezuela, a group of Democratic veterans are pushing to limit the White House’s ability to conduct military actions against the South American country.
A bill filed by Rep. Seth Moulton and 15 other Democrats would prohibit the President Donald Trump’s administration from spending federal funds on the use of military inside Venezuela or against Venezuelan forces, including remote or intermittent strikes, unless Congress authorizes military action.
The No Unauthorized War with Venezuela Act, filed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, comes amid increasing Democratic pushback against the Trump administration’s strikes targeting alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, and the seizure of several “illegal” oil tankers from the country.
“The American people do not want to send their sons and daughters to fight another regime change war based on lies,” Moulton, a former Marine captain who served for combat tours of duty in Iraq, said in a statement. “If this war is truly in our interests, the Trump administration must justify it and convince Congress.”
“If they cannot do so, our troops and their families deserve leadership willing to stand up to the president and say no — not on our watch,” he added.
Several lawmakers from the New England region, including New Hampshire Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, a Navy veteran, and Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a former Marine combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and Panama, are among those who signed onto Moulton’s bill.
Last week, Trump ordered a “complete” blockade of “sanctioned” oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela as he looks to cut off the country’s main economic lifeline as part of broader efforts to squeeze Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump has accused the South America leader of flooding the U.S. with illegal drugs and migrants.
The move followed months of high-profile strikes against suspected drug boats, with declassified videos posted regularly on the Department of Homeland Security’s social media account.
Venezuela has slammed the attacks and the blockade, calling it “a reckless and serious threat.” It has vowed to defend its sovereignty and national interests against military action.
But Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress argue that the Trump administration’s justification for the attacks and its blockade isn’t clear, and that they haven’t provided evidence the boats are carrying drugs.
Last week, Congress failed to approve a war-powers resolution filed by Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, which called for removing the armed forces “from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.” It narrowly failed on a 213-211 vote.
The scrutiny of Trump’s pressure campaign stepped up over the weekend after the U.S. seized another oil tanker Saturday and revealed that the Coast Guard is pursuing another vessel in the region.
Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.