WASHINGTON January 17, 2026 – In a pointed social media post, California Senator Adam Schiff accused Senate Republicans of lacking the courage to debate President Donald Trump’s military actions worldwide, highlighting a recent vote where Vice President JD Vance broke a tie to prevent congressional oversight on U.S. involvement in Venezuela.
“Our servicemembers and their families deserve better than a Congress that lacks the courage to debate the military actions Trump is taking around the globe,” Schiff wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “With the help of the former isolationist, JD Vance, who cast the tie-breaking vote, Republicans in the Senate abdicated again.”
The criticism stems from a Senate vote on January 14, where Republicans successfully blocked a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at requiring congressional approval for further U.S. military action in Venezuela. The measure, sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), initially advanced on January 8 with support from five Republicans joining all Democrats, in a 52-47 procedural vote. However, intense pressure from President Trump and administration officials, including calls from Trump himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, led Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) to flip their positions.
This reversal resulted in a 50-50 deadlock on a procedural motion to dismiss the resolution, prompting Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of killing the measure.
“The vote broke 50-50, and Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote to scuttle the war powers resolution,” according to reports. Only three Republicans—Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.)—stuck with Democrats in opposing the dismissal.
A video clip attached to Schiff’s post shows him addressing the Senate floor, where he described the situation as an “extraordinary” abdication of congressional responsibility. In the footage, Schiff argued that Congress’s war powers have “atrophied” over years of administrations from both parties, reaching a new “low ebb.” He emphasized the need to “assert them” before they are lost forever, stating that service members and their families “deserve better.”
Republicans defended the move, arguing that the resolution was unnecessary as no ongoing hostilities in Venezuela warranted invoking the War Powers Act. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) led the procedural challenge, framing it as preserving presidential authority in foreign policy. “The resolution was tanked on a 51 to 50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance coming in to break a tie in favor of Trump,” sources noted, highlighting it as a victory for the administration.
The vote underscores ongoing tensions over executive power in military affairs, with critics like Schiff viewing it as part of a broader pattern of congressional deference to Trump. Proponents of the resolution, including anti-intervention groups, decried the outcome as a missed opportunity to rein in potential escalations. “Republican senators used a procedural measure to kill a resolution today that would have halted unauthorized hostilities against Venezuela,” one analysis stated.
Reactions to Schiff’s post were swift and polarized. Supporters echoed his sentiments, with one user calling it a “fascist” move by Trump and urging Democrats to rally against it. Critics, however, lambasted Schiff personally, with comments ranging from accusations of lying to calls for his imprisonment. “Americans deserve better than a lying POS Senator like you,” one reply read, reflecting the heated online discourse.
Even if the resolution had passed the Senate, it would have faced an uphill battle in the House and a likely veto from Trump. The episode highlights the challenges in bipartisan efforts to check presidential military authority, especially amid Trump’s assertive foreign policy stance on issues like Venezuela.
This development comes as Trump continues to pursue aggressive actions globally, with Venezuela serving as a flashpoint due to ongoing U.S. sanctions and military posturing against the Maduro regime.
Analysts suggest this vote may set a precedent for future debates on U.S. interventions.
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