In a move that has sparked significant controversy in Washington, the Trump administration recently held a classified briefing on U.S. military strikes exclusively for Republican members of Congress, excluding Democrats. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from top Democratic lawmakers, who warn that such partisan exclusion from national security briefings undermines long-standing bipartisan norms, risks the safety of American troops, and limits transparency to the public.
Virginia Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, was particularly vocal in his condemnation. Speaking Thursday, Warner expressed deep concern about the administration’s growing tendency to shut Democrats out of sensitive national security discussions. “I don’t know how you even begin to rebuild trust,” Warner said, emphasizing that the exclusion “goes against every norm of how national security policy has worked.” He insisted that all senators, regardless of party, should be fully briefed on matters involving military operations, especially when those operations place service members in harm’s way. “When you politicize decision making about putting service members in harm's way, you make them less safe,” he warned.
The briefing in question centered on U.S. military strikes carried out against boats in the waters off South America, which the administration alleges were transporting drugs. To date, there have been 14 such strikes, resulting in the deaths of 61 people. However, the legal justification for these operations has come under scrutiny. Congress has not formally authorized military action in the region, raising concerns about whether the administration is overstepping its authority. Compounding these concerns, the Trump administration has also deployed a substantial naval force to the area, prompting speculation that these military moves could be part of a broader strategy to pressure or even remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Amid these developments, the Senate is poised to address the issue with a potential vote on a War Powers resolution next week. This resolution, pushed by Democrats, would prohibit U.S. military strikes in or near Venezuela unless explicitly approved by Congress. Some Republicans who might swing in favor of the resolution were among those invited to the exclusive briefing.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican who attended the briefing, said he had requested it along with other senators. While the briefing helped alleviate some of his concerns about the military actions, he said he would continue evaluating the War Powers resolution. Tillis defended the administration’s decision to hold a Republican-only briefing, labeling the issue “politicized,” but he also acknowledged that Democrats “should be entitled to a briefing” too.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, also a Republican, echoed this sentiment, stating that Democrats should receive briefings from the administration. When asked if he was concerned about the precedent of excluding Democrats, Graham responded that “they’ll get briefed,” a claim Senator Warner dismissed as “bull—--.” Warner demanded accountability, emphasizing that a simple “oops” makeup session would not suffice to fix the breach of protocol.
Senator Warner has been a persistent critic of the Trump administration’s approach to national security briefings. Over recent months, military and intelligence officials have increasingly departed from the longstanding bipartisan tradition of sharing information with both parties in Congress. This shift includes a pattern of limiting Democratic access to key intelligence and military discussions. Earlier this year, for instance, the administration briefed only Republican lawmakers prior to launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, excluding Democrats entirely. Additionally, a routine classified meeting organized by Warner with intelligence career staffers at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency was canceled after being targeted by Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist.
The tradition of bipartisan cooperation on national security matters has deep roots in Congress. Lawmakers from both parties have historically guarded their access to sensitive information, recognizing that control of power in Washington can swiftly change hands. Warner explicitly criticized his Republican colleagues for their “blind loyalty” to President Trump, accusing them of failing to stand up against the administration’s partisan approach. “Somebody should have walked out of the meeting,” Warner said, suggesting that Republicans who attended the briefing should have protested the exclusion of their Democratic counterparts.
Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota, another Republican who was at the briefing, said he was unaware until arriving that the session would be partisan. He recounted receiving a call from the White House on Thursday morning, inquiring whether he had any concerns about the briefing’s nature. Rounds affirmed he did, emphasizing the importance of maintaining bipartisan cooperation in intelligence and Armed Services matters. “We do things on a bipartisan basis when it