January 9, 2026
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the following statement on the Senate’s bipartisan vote to advance legislation that would require congressional authorization for military force against Venezuela:
“President Trump is trying to commit the United States to another protracted foreign regime change war that he has said could last years. At a time when working Americans are struggling to pay their bills, President Trump wants to spend New Yorkers’ tax dollars in Venezuela, while he cuts health care, child care, and essential services to our state.
“The Constitution makes it clear that presidents do not have the unilateral authority to send our service members into harm’s way without explicit congressional authorization. Today’s bipartisan vote sends a clear message to President Trump that he has overstepped his authority, and I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution’s final passage. The United States Constitution is not optional, and we must reassert Congress’ duty to prevent unjustifiable wars.”
