The decision follows a series of US attacks on drug ships off the Venezuelan coast, which Trump says have curbed drug smuggling by sea.
Trump also said that the US must now focus on operations on land, even though no decision has yet been made on expanding military operations.
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have been escalating since Trump's return to the White House in January.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro rejects accusations of collaboration with drug cartels and claims that the US is trying to overthrow him. In August, the US doubled the bounty on his capture to $50 million.
However, Trump denied that he was seeking regime change. Sources in the White House did not provide any further details on the situation.
(reuters, lup)