Congress returns amid Venezuela operation and facing deadline to avert another government shutdown

Congress Returns to Washington Amid Fallout from U.S. Operation in Venezuela and Looming Shutdown Deadline

Washington, D.C. — January 5, 2026

Lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill on Monday facing a whirlwind of crises, chief among them the dramatic fallout from President Donald Trump's weekend military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and a fast-approaching January 30 deadline to fund the government and avert another partial shutdown.

The House and Senate reconvened just days after U.S. special forces, in a daring overnight raid codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence in Caracas. The operation involved airstrikes on military targets to suppress air defenses, followed by the extraction of the couple to U.S. custody in New York, where they face long-standing federal charges related to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking.

President Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, hailed the mission as a "stunning display of American military might" and declared that the United States would temporarily "run" Venezuela to facilitate a transition and secure its vast oil reserves. "We're in charge now," Trump reiterated on Sunday, warning of potential further action if remaining Venezuelan officials do not comply with U.S. demands.

The bold move has ignited fierce debate on Capitol Hill. Democrats, led by figures such as Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), accused the administration of bypassing Congress and violating war powers, with plans to force a Senate vote this week on a resolution limiting further military engagement without legislative approval. "This is a sickening return to domination of the Western Hemisphere," Kaine said.Republicans largely praised the operation, though some expressed unease over the lack of prior congressional notification. The Gang of Eight intelligence leaders were informed only after the raid began, sources said.

Compounding the foreign policy storm is the domestic funding crunch. Just weeks after ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history — a 43-day stalemate in late 2025 — Congress must pass the remaining nine appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026 or extend temporary funding by January 30. Failure risks another partial shutdown, disrupting federal operations anew.

Negotiators from both parties expressed cautious optimism, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stating on Sunday that Democrats would not leverage the deadline for unrelated demands, such as extending expired Affordable Care Act subsidies that have driven up health premiums for millions starting this month.

Other issues loom, including rising health care costs, potential AI regulation, and scrutiny of the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. But the Venezuela crisis and funding deadline dominate the early 2026 agenda, testing bipartisan cooperation in an election year.

As briefings on the Venezuela operation begin this week, lawmakers from both sides demanded answers on legality, costs, and long-term plans. "Congress must reassert its authority," one senior Democrat said.The coming weeks promise high-stakes negotiations and potential confrontation between the branches of government. 17GEN4.com