2 Senate Dems Challenge Trump Admin’s Drug War

The Trump administration’s military operations in the Caribbean could soon face resistance in the Senate.

On Monday, Punchbowl News reported that Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia are preparing to challenge the Trump administration’s anti-drug smuggling offensive with a war powers resolution.

Per the outlet, the resolution seeks to block the administration from “engaging in hostilities against non-state organizations until formally authorized by Congress.”

In August, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to take military action against drug cartels. The United States military has carried out multiple deadly attacks on vessels in the Caribbean as part of its crackdown on drug smuggling. 

Last week, the administration informed Congress that it was engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug-smuggling cartels.

The War Powers Act of 1973 is intended to prevent the executive branch from carrying out extensive military operations without congressional approval and can be invoked to block the deployment of armed forces.

This would not be the first Senate resolution of its kind in the 119th Congress.

In June of 2025, Kaine also invoked the War Powers Act to restrain Trump’s power to strike Iran in the days leading up to the Operation Midnight Hammer attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. It was defeated 53-47, with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voting for the resolution and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., voting against it.