U.S. Proposes Vague ‘Stabilization’ Plan for Venezuela Amid Congressional Pushback

By Solange Reyner | Wednesday, 07 January 2026 04:07 PM EST

During a Wednesday briefing with congressional leaders, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined a three-phase plan for Venezuela following American military actions that ousted President Nicolas Maduro.

“Step one is the stabilization of the country. We don’t want it descending into chaos,” Rubio told reporters after the session.

The secretary emphasized the U.S. would continue enforcing an oil embargo on Venezuela, stating they would seize between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil from Venezuelan tankers and sell it at market rates—avoiding discounts previously provided to the nation. “That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime,” Rubio added.

The recovery phase would ensure fair access for American, Western, and other companies to Venezuela’s market, while the third stage—a transition period—would focus on reconciliation within Venezuela. This process would include amnesties for opposition figures held in prison or released from detention to rebuild civil society.

The briefing occurred amid growing concerns that President Donald Trump is pursuing a new era of U.S. expansionism without sufficient congressional consultation or clear plans for managing the South American nation.

Republican leaders largely supported Trump’s decision to remove Maduro, but many Democrats expressed skepticism as the administration maintains naval vessels off Venezuela’s coast and encourages U.S. companies to invest in the country’s oil sector.

“While this briefing was very extensive and long, it posed far more questions than it ever answered,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Their plan for the U.S. running Venezuela is vague, based on wishful thinking, and was unsatisfying. I did not receive any assurances that we would not try to do the same thing in other countries.”

A war powers resolution, which would bar U.S. military action in Venezuela without congressional approval, is set for a Senate vote this week.