On January 3rd, 2026, President Trump carried out an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. 80 people, including civilians, were killed in the crossfire. President Trump has declared his intention to take control of Venezuela’s oil reserves, a clearly colonial move, one we’ve seen echoed throughout history.  

This operation is the most recent incident in a series of escalating military aggressions taken by this administration. Since early September 2025, there have been 35 known strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in South American waters—killing at least 115 people. Additionally, the U.S. has positioned over 15k personnel, an aircraft carrier and other military vessels in the region directed towards Venezuela, causing both Venezuela and other Latin American countries to be concerned about an assault by the United States.  

Members of both the House and the Senate have raised concerns about the legitimacy of these attacks, noting the Constitution grants Congress—not the President—the power to declare war. Additionally, the War Powers Act of 1973 mandates any president must consult with Congress “in every possible instance” before introducing troops into armed conflict overseas. 

Protecting and enforcing our system of checks and balances is essential to the survival of our democracy. We reject the dangerous idea that any single branch of government should have the unchecked power to decide when and how the nation takes military action. 

In a joint statement with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Global Ministries, the United Church of Christ condemned this illegal military operation in Venezuela and affirmed “the right of countries and communities to shape their own futures without coercion or military intervention.” As a Just Peace denomination, we stand for “diplomacy over domination, cooperation over coercion, and peace over war.”   

We urge Congress to take a stand against this dangerous executive overreach. Reports indicate that Congress will soon vote on a War Powers resolution directing the administration to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela without a declaration of war or authorization of use of military force by Congress.  

Tell your members of Congress to uphold our checks and balances and block unauthorized military activity in Venezuela!