Venezuela and U.S. Military Strikes: Considerations for Congress CRS Insight, IN12618, 12/01/2025. Referenced Legislation – H.Con.Res. 61; S.J.Res. 83; S.J.Res. 90 – “On November 29, 2025, President Trump announced the closure of Venezuelan airspace days after the State Department designated the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Some experts maintain the group is not a cartel but an informal network of corrupt Venezuelan military officials. U.S. officials assert the FTO designation enables “new options” for military action against the group and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, its U.S.-indicted leader. Critics argue that U.S. law does not explicitly authorize military action against an FTO. Since September, the U.S. military reportedly has launched 21 lethal strikes on vessels in international waters in the Caribbean near Venezuela and in the Eastern Pacific that reportedly have killed more than 80 people. President Trump has said the strikes killed “narcoterrorists,” some of which he linked to Maduro. The U.S. military also has amassed military assets in the Caribbean, reportedly to pressure Maduro to resign. President Trump has threatened strikes on Venezuelan territory but also has spoken to Maduro. Congressional responses to the U.S. strikes have varied, with some Members expressing support and others questioning their legality. Members are seeking more transparency from the Administration, and House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders have announced oversight plans, including investigations of reported U.S. follow-on killing of strike survivors. Since October, the Senate has considered but not approved two resolutions pursuant to the War Powers Resolution that would direct the President to terminate the use of the U.S. military for hostilities against certain FTOs (S.J.Res. 83) or with Venezuela (S.J.Res. 90) without congressional authorization. A similar resolution has been introduced in the House (H.Con.Res. 61).”