Senate Republicans—joined by one high-profile Democrat—on Wednesday blocked a War Powers resolution that sought to stop President Donald Trump from continuing airstrikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. The measure failed in a 51–48 vote, with Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman breaking ranks to vote against it, while Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska sided with Democrats.

The resolution, spearheaded by Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia, would have required congressional authorization before the U.S. military could engage in hostilities with any non-state drug-trafficking organizations, including those that the Trump administration has labeled “foreign terrorist organizations.” The White House has already conducted four strikes on vessels near Venezuela since early September, and has declared the U.S. is in a “non-international armed conflict” with cartels.

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“The Administration strongly opposes passage of S.J. Res. 83, a joint resolution that would direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against any foreign terrorist organization or specially designated global terrorist designated on or after February 20, 2025, engaged in the promotion, trafficking, or distribution of illegal drugs, and other related activities,” the Trump administration stated on Tuesday.

At the beginning of October, the White House sent a memo to Congress stating that the drug cartels were terrorist organizations and unlawful combatants. “The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” it declared.

“As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly commented.

GOP Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho said the strikes were “fully compliant and fully justified.” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) called the cartels “narco-terrorists” and praised Trump for “trying to get drugs out of this country.”

Sen. Paul argued, “Is it too much to ask to know the names of those we kill before we kill them? To know what evidence exists of their guilt?” He added: “Death is generally not the penalty for drug smuggling.”

Fetterman’s vote gave the administration the edge it needed. He has demonstrated a willingness to break with Democrats before, especially regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

Fuck Hamas. pic.twitter.com/1j2nOcn1IO

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) October 6, 2025