Key Highlights
- The 60-day window for U.S. military strikes on alleged Latin American drug boats has closed.
- The White House claims these strikes do not constitute “hostilities” as defined in the War Powers Resolution.
- Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth forbids military officials from discussing boat strikes with lawmakers without prior approval.
- A federal judge in Oregon paused Trump’s order to send National Guard troops to Portland until at least Friday.
- Trump threatened war with Nigeria, citing misinformation about Christian killings.
The Boiling Point of U.S. Military Strikes on Drug Boats
The legal battle over U.S. military strikes against alleged drug boats in Latin America has reached a critical juncture, as the 60-day window under the War Powers Resolution expired on November 3, 2025. According to the Pentagon, their first strike occurred on September 2, and they notified Congress of these actions on September 4, marking day 61. This has led to a new legal wrinkle where the White House now claims that war powers restrictions do not apply to President Trump’s actions against these alleged drug traffickers.
“The New York Times and Washington Post both reported that new legal wrinkle over the weekend,” writes Bradley Peniston, emphasizing the significance of this development.
The administration has conducted 15 strikes so far, resulting in the deaths of 65 people with three survivors. However, the administration has produced no evidence supporting its allegations about the boats, their passengers, cargo, or the number of casualties.
The White House now claims these strikes do not constitute “hostilities” as described in the War Powers Resolution. An anonymous White House official told The Washington Post that the Pentagon’s “operation comprises precise strikes conducted largely by unmanned aerial vehicles launched from naval vessels in international waters at distances too far away for the crews of the targeted vessels to endanger American personnel.” This claim is seen as a potential legal loophole, allowing the administration to continue its military actions without congressional approval.
Military Control and Congressional Relations
Adding to the complexities, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has forbidden military officials from discussing the boat strikes with lawmakers without prior approval. His new rules also cover topics such as the Golden Dome program, acquisition reform, critical munitions, National Defense Strategy, budget plans, foreign military sales reform, AUKUS, anomalous health incidents known as “Havana Syndrome,” and Spectrum.
These restrictions have been met with criticism from Congress. “The new rules have put a large barrier between the military & Congress,” GOP Rep. Don Bacon wrote on social media this weekend.
He added, “The Pentagon says the change is very small. But I already see the impact with military members being afraid to communicate. This is another amateur move.”
Legal and Political Implications
The legal theory proposed by the White House could have significant implications for future military actions. Former State Department counsel Brian Finacune argues that this “creative lawyering” could allow the U.S. government to continue its killing spree at sea, even if it exceeds the time limits set by the War Powers Resolution.
“First, the U.S. government can continue its killing spree at sea, notwithstanding the time limits imposed by the War Powers Resolution,” Finacune wrote in a statement. “Second, The administration’s theory places a broad swath of common U.S. military action—standoff strikes with little risk to U.S. forces—outside the scope of the War Powers Resolution and its restrictions.”
Additionally, the legal position could complicate congressional efforts to rein in unauthorized military actions by future presidents.
Other Developments
On a related note, a federal judge in Oregon has paused Trump’s order to send National Guard troops to Portland until at least Friday. The ruling came down on Sunday evening and essentially extends her earlier temporary restraining order blocking President Trump from using Guard troops to protect an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in the city that has been the site of daily protests since early June.
Meanwhile, President Trump threatened war with Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians. “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria,” he wrote on social media. This threat has prompted confusion and alarm among officials in Nigeria and international observers.
It’s clear that these actions highlight ongoing tensions between the executive branch and Congress over military authority and the use of force. As legal battles and political maneuvering continue, the future of U.S. military operations abroad remains uncertain.
