The House voted to curb President Donald Trump’s war powers in Iran, delivering a sharp political rebuke over how the administration handled the military campaign. The measure passed 215 to 208, with four Republicans joining Democrats to support it: Reps. Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett and Warren Davidson.
The resolution does not need the president’s signature, but it still must clear the Senate before it can take effect. It was introduced by New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Pressure builds inside Congress
The vote marked the latest step in a broader push by Democrats to force Congress to reassert its authority over war powers. That effort has steadily drawn more Republican backing in recent weeks, even as party leaders continued to defend Trump’s approach.
House Speaker Mike Johnson argued the resolution could harm ongoing diplomacy. He said it would weaken the administration’s leverage in negotiations and called it “a very dangerous prospect” to remove that authority from the president while peace talks remain underway.
Johnson also maintained that US objectives in Iran were “well defined” and “achieved,” although some lawmakers, including Republicans, have asked for more information from the administration. His defense of Trump came as Republican support for limiting the president’s power became harder to contain.
A vote delayed, then forced to the floor
The House was originally set to vote on the measure on May 21, but GOP leaders abruptly canceled it when Republicans were close to losing because of absences. Meeks later said Johnson had been stalling the vote and told CNN that some Republicans were under pressure at home as voters focused on the cost of food and gas.
That tension showed how the issue has become more than a foreign policy debate. It also reflects broader discomfort among some Republicans as the party-controlled Congress has recently pushed back on parts of Trump’s agenda in other areas as well.
Senate Republicans have also revolted over a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund Trump supports, and they recently removed funding for Trump’s ballroom security from an immigration package after the chamber’s rule-keeper found it violated budget rules.
Legal questions around the Iran operation
The dispute over war powers centers on whether Trump’s military campaign in Iran exceeded the limits set by the War Powers Act. Under that law, the president cannot keep US forces in active hostilities for more than 60 days without congressional approval.
The Pentagon, State Department and USAID inspectors general announced a joint review on Wednesday, saying they are required by law to examine overseas military operations that go beyond that threshold. Their announcement suggested the watchdogs believe the war has lasted more than 60 days from its start on February 28.
The administration did not seek congressional approval for Operation Epic Fury, the US name for the campaign against Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last month that he believed the 60-day clock had “reset” when Trump announced a ceasefire in April.
What comes next for the resolution
The House action is important because it sends a formal warning to the White House, but the resolution still faces a Senate test. If the upper chamber approves it, the measure would still bypass the president because a concurrent resolution does not require his signature.
For now, the vote stands as a rare public split between Trump and members of his own party, as lawmakers weigh executive power, legal limits and the risks of further military escalation in Iran. It also leaves open a larger fight over how much authority Congress is willing to reclaim as the administration says it is trying to conclude a peace agreement.
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