U.S. Capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro: Considerations for Congress

U.S. Capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro: Considerations for Congress

U.S. Capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro: Considerations for Congress

Updated January 12, 2026 (IN12618)

On January 3, 2026, President Trump announced that the U.S. military had launched strikes across Venezuela that culminated in the capture and arrest of President Nicolás Maduro (2013-2026) and his wife, Cilia Flores, in an operation that resulted in few U.S. casualties. Maduro and Flores were transferred to New York to face narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges. Maduro's ouster came after months of U.S. lethal strikes on vessels allegedly transporting drugs for U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) tied to Maduro, seizures of vessels transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil, and a drone strike that destroyed a port facility. President Trump said the United States will "run" Venezuela until a transition takes place and subsequently stated that Venezuelan officials would turn over "sanctioned oil," reportedly worth some $3 billion, and negotiate an energy deal in which the United States will largely control Venezuela's oil industry. He asserted that Maduro's vice president and oil minister Delcy Rodríguez, who is under U.S. sanctions for corruption, appears willing "to do what we think is necessary" as acting president. If not, he warned, she could "pay a very big price."

Congressional responses to the U.S. capture of Maduro have varied. Some Members have supported the "decisive and justified" operation to bring Maduro to justice. Others criticized the lack of prior authorization or notification to Congress. Both chambers have considered but not approved 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 and H.Con.Res. 61) or with Venezuela (S.J.Res. 90 and H.Con.Res. 64) without congressional authorization. On January 8, the Senate voted to advance S.J.Res. 98, which would direct the President to remove U.S. forces from hostilities in Venezuela not authorized by Congress. Congress may consider other legislative and oversight actions.

U.S. Policy

Successive U.S. Administrations have employed various strategies to address authoritarian rule in Venezuela. Neither the first Trump Administration's sanctions strategy nor the Biden Administration's negotiated approach precipitated a change in government. In January 2025, Maduro began a third term, holding onto power despite election results suggesting he lost the 2024 election to Edmundo González. González became the opposition candidate after Maduro-aligned officials blocked the candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado; González has been in exile in Spain since September 2024. Machado, who escaped Venezuela in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, has supported U.S. military actions to oust Maduro.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that while restoring democracy remains a long-term goal, coercing the current government to address U.S. security, migration, and energy concerns is the immediate aim. President Trump has asserted that María Corina Machado "doesn't have the support" to lead Venezuela, but he is scheduled to meet with her in the White House.

Security. The Trump Administration has stated that drug trafficking and terrorist groups led by or associated with Maduro threaten U.S. national security, although the 2025 indictment against him does not identify Maduro as the leader of the Cartel of the Suns. In October, the Administration reportedly informed Congress that U.S. forces are in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels in Venezuela and beyond.

Migration. Political repression accompanied by an economic and humanitarian crisis fueled emigration of nearly 8 million Venezuelans during Maduro's presidency. This migration facilitated the spread of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan gang and U.S.-designated FTO. President Trump has accused Maduro of sending TdA members to conduct "irregular warfare" in the United States.

Energy. Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, but production has plummeted due to corruption, U.S. sanctions, and mismanagement. President Trump has repeatedly asserted that Venezuela stole oil and other resources from the United States. Secretary Rubio said that a U.S. "oil quarantine" of sanctioned shipments will continue as the United States leads efforts to rebuild the sector and that oil revenue will support a three-phase transition process.

Some experts have disputed the Administration's claims about Venezuela, including those regarding the existence of a non-international armed conflict, Maduro's direction of TDA, and stolen oil.

The situation in Venezuela remains unstable, and some view U.S. policy as uncertain.

While Acting President Rodríguez and other Maduro allies, including some indicted in the United States in 2020 and in 2025, apparently remain united and have offered to cooperate with the United States—including by releasing some political prisoners—repression has reportedly intensified. Maduro allies reportedly do not exert full control over the country. A Biden Administration official who led Venezuela policy predicted that while "criminalized continuity" or a "managed transition" to democracy could occur, power struggles and/or clashes within Venezuela may result in "chaos" requiring U.S. intervention. Colombian FTOs operating in Venezuela reportedly have vowed to challenge U.S. imperialism.

International Reactions

The U.S. military operation to capture Maduro has prompted international debate. The UN Secretary-General said U.S. actions set a "dangerous precedent," and some U.S. allies condemned the action at an emergency UN Security Council meeting. European Union officials urged restraint and respect for international law. China, Cuba, and Iran have condemned the action. Latin American governments have expressed differing perspectives on the operation. Some, including those of the three most populous countries (Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia), have criticized the action. Others, such as the governments of Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru, have supported the move. The president of Panama, among others, has called for Edmundo González to take power.

Congressional Considerations

Congress has supported past U.S. efforts to compel Maduro to cede power in order to hasten a return to democracy in Venezuela. Members have disagreed, however, on the Trump Administration's policy goals and the legality of U.S. military strikes on drug vessels at sea, seizures of vessels transporting Venezuelan oil, military ouster of Maduro, and potential energy deal.

Members may continue to request or seek to compel information from the Trump Administration and to engage in consultations on its policy approach. Congress also may consider legislation to authorize or prohibit future military action or related funds for military operations in Venezuela. Congress could consider legislation to authorize aspects of U.S. policy or broad legislation to facilitate a democratic transition similar to the VERDAD Act (P.L. 116-94, Division J, Title I). Congress also could appropriate funds to support democracy, economic recovery, and/or humanitarian assistance that could be tied to congressional conditions. Congress may hold hearings, direct inspectors general to report on U.S. actions, and liaise with exiled opposition leaders.

(This product was formerly titled Venezuela and U.S. Military Strikes: Considerations for Congress.)