President Trump told Congress this week that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels labeled as terrorist organizations. The notice followed three military strikes last month on boats near Venezuela that killed 17 people. According to The New York Times, the message framed the action as part of a broader push during a federal shutdown.
White House steps during the shutdown
The shutdown reached its third day, and Trump called it an “unprecedented opportunity” to make sweeping cuts to federal agencies. He also moved to halt billions of dollars in funds to states run by Democrats. The Times reported that the administration used federal websites and workers to wage political attacks.
The approach links domestic moves with foreign action. The notice to Congress set a formal tone for the campaign against cartels. It also followed the August presence of U.S. Navy warships in Panama City, shown in a photo cited by The Times.
Notice to Congress and recent strikes
The confidential notice said the U.S. was formally engaged in conflict with cartels that the administration labeled as terrorist groups. The three strikes targeted boats in waters near Venezuela. Seventeen people died in those operations.
What the Times reports
The New York Times said editors spent yesterday examining the notice and its context. The coverage tied the message to Trump’s larger use of executive power during the shutdown. It referenced earlier reporting on proposed agency cuts and redirected funds.
The Times linked to prior stories on the shutdown strategy. Those pieces described plans to halt funds to Democratic-led states. They also described how some workers and federal websites were used for political attacks. The new briefing placed the conflict notice alongside those steps.
The newsletter framed the military action and the domestic moves as connected parts of Trump’s response. It did not list new policy details beyond the notice and the reported strikes. The report emphasized the formal wording, including “armed conflict,” and the death toll from the boat strikes.
The Times credited Tom Wright-Piersanti, an editor of The Morning newsletter. The briefing invited readers to subscribe for more coverage of U.S. politics and the shutdown.
