After bombing Caracas, capturing then-Venezuelan President Maduro, and announcing intentions to “get the oil flowing,” it’s becoming increasingly clear that Trump is preparing to “run” Venezuela’s internal affairs while extracting its resources under threat of future violence.

It’s a plan as ill-conceived as it is dangerous — and it’s already becoming clear U.S. taxpayers are likely to be left holding the check.

While Secretary of State Rubio initially claimed that their plan for Venezuela’s oil is “not going to cost us anything,” experts estimate that building up Venezuelan oil infrastructure could cost $115 BILLION. Now, Trump is suggesting that taxpayers’ dollars could be used to reimburse oil companies for the “tremendous amount of money” required to invest in Venezuela.

While prices skyrocket at home, taxpayers must NOT be on the hook for oil companies in Trump’s lawless plan to pillage Venezuela’s oil. Fortunately, Rep. Mike Levin and Sen. Jeff Merkley just introduced legislation to prevent that from happening — and we need everyone in Congress to add their urgent support.