BY MIRABEL ODETA
U.S. President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans said on Monday that his decision to launch strikes against Iran fell squarely within his constitutional authority as commander in chief, while Democrats countered that the administration has yet to provide sufficient justification for the action and announced plans to pursue a war powers vote later this week.
Top national security officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and General Dan Caine, briefed congressional leaders about the strikes, which came two days after Israeli and U.S. forces began coordinated bombing operations against targets in Iran. The classified session was intended to explain the rationale behind the military action and address mounting concerns on Capitol Hill about the scope and duration of the campaign.
Before entering the briefing, Rubio told reporters that U.S. intelligence indicated an imminent threat to American personnel and interests. He said Washington had been aware that Israel was preparing to attack Iran and anticipated that Tehran would retaliate, potentially targeting U.S. troops stationed in the region. According to Republican lawmakers, that expectation of retaliation created an urgent security risk that required a rapid American response.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the briefing that the president had faced a difficult choice once it became clear Israel intended to proceed with or without direct U.S. involvement. Johnson described the operation as narrowly tailored and defensive in nature, arguing that it was limited in scope and objective and necessary to safeguard American forces and interests. He expressed confidence that the mission would conclude swiftly and would not evolve into a broader or prolonged conflict.
Democrats, however, challenged both the legal and strategic foundations of the strikes. They emphasized that under the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the exclusive authority to declare war, and they argued that the president should not initiate what he has described as a potentially weeks-long military campaign without explicit authorization from lawmakers. Several Democratic leaders said the administration’s explanations for the timing and purpose of the attack have shifted in recent days, raising further doubts.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia said the administration initially framed the action as an effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, but later cited additional goals, including curbing ballistic missile development, pursuing regime change and crippling Iran’s naval capabilities. Warner said the evolving justifications have made it harder for lawmakers to assess the true objectives of the operation and whether U.S. national interests are clearly guiding policy decisions.
While affirming his support for Israel’s security, Warner said that committing American service members to combat requires clear evidence of an immediate threat. He argued that the administration has not yet met that standard and warned that the risk of further casualties underscores the need for congressional oversight. By Monday evening, six U.S. service members had been reported killed in the conflict, intensifying the debate in Washington.
Administration officials are scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to brief the full Senate and House of Representatives, offering more lawmakers the opportunity to question intelligence assessments and military strategy. Later in the week, Congress is expected to consider war powers resolutions aimed at restricting the president’s ability to continue military operations against Iran without a formal declaration of war.
Although the Constitution permits limited military action for national security reasons, it grants Congress the primary authority to send U.S. troops into sustained hostilities. Despite that framework, Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, and while a small number have joined Democrats in supporting measures to reassert congressional authority, party leadership has so far blocked attempts to require the president to seek formal approval before continuing the campaign.