U.S.-Controlled Venezuelan Oil Revenue: Tracing the $13 Billion Gap

Since seizing control of Venezuela's oil exports in January 2026, the Trump administrationhas collected more than $13 billion** in revenue from Venezuelan crude sales. Yet the official Venezuelan tracker records only **one transfer of $300 million. The State Department claims roughly $3 billion has been sent, but a promised independent audit by KPMG has never been made public. Congressional oversight requests from both parties have gone unanswered. Meanwhile, Venezuela is struggling to recover from June earthquakes that caused an estimated **$14.8 billion in damage and losses**, with recovery needs estimatedat up to **$21 billion**. This paper traces the documented facts, the contradictory official statements, and the legislative responses to the missing $13 billion.