Close vote underscores divisions in Congress as U.S. conflict with Iran expands and lawmakers debate presidential war powers.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly rejected a resolution Thursday that sought to halt President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, marking an early congressional test of support for the administration’s strategy in the widening conflict.
The measure failed by a vote of 212–219, following a similar vote in the Senate one day earlier that also defeated an effort to limit the president’s authority. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., under the War Powers Resolution framework designed to require congressional approval for extended military operations.
According to reporting, only two Republicans—Massie and Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio—supported the measure. Four Democrats joined Republicans in opposing it.
The vote reflected a divided Congress confronting the expanding conflict with Iran and the constitutional questions surrounding the president’s authority to initiate military action without formal congressional approval.
“Donald Trump is not a king, and if he believes the war with Iran is in our national interest, then he must come to Congress and make the case,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Lawmakers also approved a separate resolution declaring Iran the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.
Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress have largely framed the military campaign as a continuation of longstanding efforts to counter the Iranian government rather than the start of a new war. Some supporters of the operation view the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the conflict as a potential opening for regime change, while others have warned that such an outcome could create instability and a power vacuum.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, defended the president’s actions and argued that Trump was exercising his constitutional authority to protect the United States.
Mast, a former Army explosive ordnance disposal technician who served in Afghanistan, said the resolution would effectively require the president “to do nothing” in response to what he described as an imminent threat posed by Iran.
Democrats have characterized the military campaign as a war of choice that raises fundamental constitutional questions about the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.
“The framers weren’t fooling around,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., arguing that the Constitution reserves the authority to declare war to Congress. “It’s up to us.”
Had it passed and been signed into law, the resolution would have required the administration to halt military operations against Iran unless Congress formally authorized the action. The White House indicated the president would likely veto the measure if it reached his desk.
Since launching a surprise strike against Iran on Saturday, the Trump administration has worked to secure political backing for the operation. Senior officials spent hours this week briefing lawmakers on Capitol Hill in closed-door sessions aimed at reassuring members of Congress about the scope and objectives of the campaign.
The conflict has already resulted in American casualties. Six U.S. service members were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait over the weekend, and the president has acknowledged that additional losses may occur as the fighting continues.
Meanwhile, thousands of Americans in the Middle East have sought to leave the region, contacting congressional offices for assistance as commercial travel options become limited.
Trump said Thursday that he expects to play a role in selecting Iran’s next leadership following the death of Khamenei. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the United States is not seeking to engage in long-term nation-building.
Johnson said earlier this week that the country has significant challenges at home and that the U.S. does not intend to enter into an extended reconstruction effort in Iran.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the conflict could last as long as eight weeks, roughly double the initial estimate offered by the president. While the campaign has largely consisted of airstrikes and naval operations, Trump has not ruled out the possibility of deploying ground forces.
More than 1,230 people in Iran have died since the conflict began.
Administration officials say the military objective is to eliminate Iran’s ballistic missile capability, which they argue is protecting the country’s nuclear program. Officials have also said that Israel was prepared to launch strikes independently and that American bases in the region could have faced retaliation if the United States had not acted first.
Earlier in the week, U.S. forces also reported torpedoing an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka.
Massie, one of the most prominent Republican critics of the military action, said the administration has not adequately explained the decision to launch what he described as a preemptive strike.
“This administration can’t even give us a straight answer as to why we launched this preemptive war,” Massie said.
Massie and Khanna, who previously collaborated on efforts to force disclosure of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, worked together to bring the war powers resolution to the House floor despite opposition from Republican leadership.
Speaker Johnson warned that limiting the president’s authority while the United States is already engaged in military operations could endanger American forces.
“Congress must stand with the president to finally close, once and for all, this dark chapter of history,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.
Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., whose parents emigrated from Iran, said she welcomed the end of Khamenei’s rule but raised concerns about the long-term consequences of the conflict.
“War carries profound and deadly consequences for our troops, for the American people and for the entire world,” Ansari said. “It’s the most serious decision that a nation can make and the American people deserve debate, transparency and accountability before that decision is made.”
Some Democrats have proposed an alternative measure that would allow the administration to continue military operations for 30 days before seeking formal congressional approval. That proposal has not yet been scheduled for a vote.
The House decision follows a series of closely contested war powers votes during Trump’s second term. Senate Republicans have previously defeated similar measures addressing other conflicts, but lawmakers from both parties acknowledged that the Iran vote represented a particularly consequential test of congressional oversight during wartime.
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