“The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. An indefinite naval blockade of a sovereign nation is an act of war. I will continue to insist that the president seek congressional authorization for actions of this magnitude.
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Senate Republicans Block War Powers Resolution to End Trump's Cuba Blockade
April 28, 2026
On April 28, 2026, Senate Republicans voted 51-47 to dismiss a war powers resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would have required President Trump to obtain congressional approval to continue the US energy blockade of Cuba. Republicans argued the resolution was out of order because the US is not engaged in outright hostilities with Cuba, sidestepping the substance of whether Trump needed congressional authorization for the naval blockade. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans to kill the resolution. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) were the only Republicans to break with their party and support the measure. Kaine argued the blockade had caused a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, including disrupted medical care, lack of clean water, and spiking food prices. The vote marked the latest in a series of congressional attempts to use the War Powers Act to constrain Trump's unilateral military and paramilitary actions during his second term.
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“The blockade of Cuba has caused humanitarian crises across the island — disrupting medical care, leaving millions without clean water, and spiking food prices. Congress must assert its authority. We cannot allow the president to impose what amounts to an act of war without a single vote by the people's representatives.
“I've been consistent: presidents of both parties need congressional authorization before taking the country into military or paramilitary confrontation. The Cuba blockade is no exception.