Congress reacts to Venezuela operation to extract Nicolas Maduro

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It's the perpetual query in Congress .

Was the Speaker briefed?

When will they offer you a briefing?

I don’t know something about that as a result of I haven’t been briefed but.

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<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/343/192/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/686/384/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/672/378/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1344/756/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/931/523/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1862/1046/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/720/405/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1440/810/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-federal-charges-transfer-new-york-007.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> The seize of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro stirred up fairly the dialogue on Capitol Hill. (XNY/Star Max/GC Photos)

A Congressional "briefing" is meant to make clear unanswered questions.

And the questions are legion after the U.S. army mission to extract Nicolás Maduro from Caracas .

That preliminary "briefing" unfolded Monday evening on the Capitol. Granted, not for each lawmaker. However the bipartisan Home and Senate management, prime members of the Home and Senate Intelligence Committees, leaders of the Armed Providers Committees, and the chairs and rating members of the Overseas Affairs/Overseas Relations Committees. Democrats seethed that the White Home didn't notify Congress prematurely of the operation. Granted, "notification" is totally different from a briefing. And it’s a far cry from Congress voting to authorize or droop an operation below its Article I "warfare powers." Democrats – and a few Republicans – contend that solely Congress can bless an operation just like the one in Venezuela. However regardless, either side wished to know what comes subsequent.

It is all within the eye of the beholder.

"It is a army operation. Everyone knows that," mentioned Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the highest Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, on CNN.

"This was not an act of warfare or an invasion. This was the lawful apprehension of a fugitive from justice," countered Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., on Fox.

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Most Democrats say the administration violated the Structure, dispatching U.S. forces overseas with out Congressional permission.

"The President actually dropped right into a sovereign nation, executed on this warrant, pulled the chief out with no plan for the following day," mentioned Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Penn., on CNN.

Some lawmakers fretted about President Trump’s future intentions and puzzled if Venezuela was only a precursor.

"Now he is doubling down on this reckless coverage," mentioned Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on MSNOW. "He’s occupied with Colombia and occupied with Cuba and Greenland. I imply, the typical American goes to say, ‘What's going on within the White House ?’"

However a minimum of one Democrat broke with a few of his colleagues.

"This wasn't a warfare. This wasn't boots on grounds and in that type of a approach. This was surgical and really environment friendly. And I wish to have fun our army," mentioned Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., on Fox.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., referred to as the operation "surgical and environment friendly" whereas bestowing reward upon the army. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)

At this briefing, lawmakers heard from Legal professional Common Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Joint Chiefs of Employees Chairman Dan Caine, Secretary of Struggle Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Democrats questioned what the administration advised them in earlier briefings.

" Marco Rubio personally, explicitly lied to me," charged Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., on CNN. "We requested again and again, ‘What's the bigger plan? Is there an effort at regime change being deliberate?’"

Nevertheless, most Republicans dismissed Democrats’ issues and extolled the success of the mission.

"This is among the most intricate and beautiful army operations that has ever been carried out within the historical past of warfare," mentioned Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., a former Navy SEAL, on Fox. "That is the stuff that legends are fabricated from."

"If President Trump gained the battle towards most cancers and cured most cancers, the Democrats would take the aspect of most cancers," mentioned Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. "It’s insane."

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The calendar flipped to 2026. It’s a midterm 12 months. And Democrats are already making an attempt to make use of Venezuela towards Republicans. Democrats imagine the GOP’s deal with the Caribbean and South America provides them a political opening as they deal with pocket guide points.

"The American folks didn't join this sort of army adventurism after they voted for Donald Trump. They wished a president targeted on America first. Centered on decreasing the price of residing. Reducing well being care prices. Reducing grocery costs," mentioned Schumer.

Democrats are actually in search of parliamentary strategies to impede potential future maneuvers – in Venezuela. Or maybe elsewhere.

"The fact is that to fund these operations, to fund nation-building, they want the approval of Congress," mentioned Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., on CNN.

Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., referred to as the operation "army adventurism" that "the American folks didn't join." (Alex Wong/Getty Photos)

Most funding for the federal authorities expires in slightly greater than three weeks. That features separate payments to fund the Pentagon and the State Division. Few need a authorities shutdown. The truth is, work on different spending payments has gone fairly nicely. Count on a vote on a mini-spending bundle later this week. However army and overseas operations spending payments are among the many 9 measures left incomplete forward of this subsequent funding spherical.

The last word energy in Congress is that of the purse. It’s doable Democrats – and a few Republicans who're skeptical of what the U.S. is doing in Venezuela – might restrict or reduce off funds for any operations there.

Lawmakers will query what’s wanted from the army or diplomats. All of that includes cash from Capitol Hill. There’s uncertainty about what the endgame is.

"I do not know what ‘run the nation’ means," mentioned Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. "I'd assume that the USA doesn't wish to be any person working one other nation. Even in an interim."

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Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, represents a battleground district in eastern Iowa . She gained in 2020 by six votes. 967 votes in 2024.

"We do not wish to have troops on the bottom. Iowans don't need that. We are not looking for nation constructing," mentioned Miller-Meeks on Fox. "We have got sufficient issues to clear up."

If lawmakers don’t like what they’re listening to, they might make the Protection Appropriations invoice and the State/Overseas Operations measure tough to move. And, if Congress limits such funds, any continued operations in Venezuela should stop below the legislation.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is pushing a vote later this week on a warfare powers decision. If authorized, it could mandate Congressional approval for future interventions. Solely GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., joined Democrats in voting sure on an analogous decision final fall.

So this was the primary briefing. Different briefings will quickly observe about the way forward for Venezuela. Possible for months if not years. South America and the Caribbean are the most recent frontier to observe on the worldwide stage.

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However questions – and solutions – will flow into by means of Capitol Hill. And it'll hinge on whether or not or not lawmakers are "briefed."

Chad Pergram presently serves as Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX Information Channel (FNC). He joined the community in September 2007 and is predicated out of Washington, D.C.