U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify before the Senate on Wednesday, marking his first appearance before lawmakers since a controversial U.S. operation in Venezuela reignited debate over presidential war powers.
The hearing comes weeks after the Trump administration narrowly avoided congressional limits on further military action in Venezuela, following intense lobbying by Rubio and President Donald Trump to block a bipartisan resolution.
Rubio, a former Florida senator and onetime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is expected to face a more skeptical audience than when the Senate unanimously confirmed him as secretary of state last year.
Lawmakers are expected to press Rubio on the January 3 U.S. raid that led to the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an operation that took many members of Congress by surprise, according to reporting by Reuters.
Earlier this month, Senate Republicans narrowly defeated a war powers resolution that would have required congressional approval for any additional U.S. military action in Venezuela. The measure failed only after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote, underscoring growing unease within Trump’s own party.
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In prepared remarks submitted ahead of the hearing, Rubio is expected to frame the operation as limited and successful, rejecting claims that the United States is engaged in a war or military occupation.
“We will closely monitor the performance of the interim authorities as they cooperate with our stage-based plan to restore stability to Venezuela,” Rubio said in the prepared testimony. He added that the administration remains willing to escalate pressure if necessary, stating: “Make no mistake, as the President has stated, we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail.”
The comments are likely to intensify debate over whether the administration has exceeded its constitutional authority, particularly as officials continue to insist that no U.S. troops are deployed in Venezuela.
Several senators from both parties have criticized the administration for failing to adequately consult Congress before launching major operations abroad. Lawmakers have also raised concerns about the abrupt termination of multiple foreign aid programs that had previously received bipartisan support.
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The lack of transparency, critics argue, mirrors past conflicts where limited oversight led to prolonged U.S. involvement overseas.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho, is expected to strike a more conciliatory tone, emphasizing the need for clarity rather than confrontation.
“Today is the opportunity to publicly explain the administration’s plan for the future of Venezuela,” Risch is expected to say, according to excerpts of his opening remarks shared with reporters. Referencing past U.S. conflicts, Risch noted that many Americans remain wary of “so-called ‘forever wars,’” adding that the administration has assured him it intends to avoid that outcome.
The war powers resolution initially appeared likely to pass after five Republicans joined Democrats in advancing it—an unusual rebuke of a Republican president. Trump responded by publicly criticizing the dissenting senators, warning that they should not be re-elected.
In the days that followed, Trump and Rubio personally contacted lawmakers, reiterating that there were no U.S. ground forces in Venezuela and offering additional briefings. Two senators—Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana—later reversed their positions, allowing the resolution to fail.
Wednesday’s testimony is expected to shape congressional oversight of U.S. policy toward Venezuela moving forward, particularly if the administration seeks further action.