House Approves Iran War Powers Resolution in Bipartisan Vote

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution on Wednesday, directing President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval before carrying out any further military operations against Iran. The measure passed by a vote of 215-208, with four Republicans joining all voting Democrats in support.

The resolution now heads to the Senate, where bipartisan opposition to the Iran war has been increasing. This conflict will reach its 100th day this Saturday after President Trump joined Israel in attacking Iran on February 28 without seeking congressional approval. The president attempted to label the ongoing hostilities as a 'skirmish' or a 'short-term excursion.' According to Al Jazeera, four Republican senators— Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — joined all Democrats except Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania in advancing a similar resolution.

Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Tom Barrett (Mich.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio) were the four GOP members who joined Democrats in passing the measure, per Democracy Now! The resolution is unlikely to become law but represents a stark rebuke against Trump’s decision to join Israel in attacking Iran on February 28. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who missed the vote due to a family health emergency in India, stated she would have voted for the resolution.

President Trump condemned lawmakers, including members of his Republican Party, for voting in favor of the resolution. He decried the lawmakers for passing the measure 'right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran,' according to Al Jazeera. 'Who would do such an unpatriotic thing,' Trump wrote on his online platform Truth Social.

The House vote marks a significant moment as it is the first time since the war began that Congress has backed resolutions aimed at limiting presidential authority in military actions against Iran, reflecting growing concern among members of President Trump's party about the three-month-long conflict. The War Powers Resolution, passed in 1973, requires the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of hostilities and mandates that military action begun without Congressional approval must be terminated within 60 days unless there is an emergency.

With Iran, the 60-day deadline was May 1. Trump addressed this by declaring that the hostilities had been 'terminated' by a ceasefire, despite continuing attacks and a blockade of Iranian ports. Legal experts suggest this argument may not withstand judicial scrutiny. The resolutions face significant hurdles in both chambers, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicating he is unlikely to allow a vote unless it is deemed privileged by the parliamentarian.