The House approved its third Iran war powers resolution since fighting began in February, with seven Republicans joining Democrats in directing the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities without congressional authorization.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The House voted for a third time to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in the Iran conflict, approving a war powers resolution 220-204 as a bipartisan group of lawmakers challenged the Trump administration’s continued prosecution of the nearly seven-month war.
The vote occurred late Tuesday, Sept. 15, rather than Wednesday, according to the official House record. H. Con. Res. 93 directs the president, under the War Powers Resolution, to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran. The measure passed at 10:32 p.m. with 220 votes in favor and 204 against.
All voting Democrats supported the resolution along with seven Republicans, according to the Associated Press. The Republicans voting for it were Reps. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Zach Nunn of Iowa and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa.
The latest vote follows similar House actions in June and July seeking to halt U.S. military operations against Iran absent specific congressional authorization. None of the earlier House resolutions reached President Donald Trump’s desk.
The Iran conflict began Feb. 28 and has continued through intermittent missile attacks, U.S. strikes and fighting affecting shipping and energy markets in the region.
The constitutional dispute centers on the division of war powers between Congress and the president.
The Constitution gives Congress authority to declare war, while the president serves as commander in chief. The War Powers Resolution requires congressional authorization for sustained military operations and generally establishes a 60-day period following the introduction of U.S. forces into hostilities, with a possible additional 30-day withdrawal period under specified circumstances.
Massie separately escalated that dispute Tuesday by introducing articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Massie accused Hegseth of continuing military operations against Iran without the congressional authorization required under the War Powers Resolution. In announcing the impeachment effort, Massie said Hegseth had been overseeing hostilities for more than 90 days without congressional approval.
“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said.
Massie’s articles also contain allegations involving other uses of military and departmental authority. The Pentagon has defended Hegseth and disputed criticism of his leadership.
The Trump administration has previously disputed lawmakers’ interpretation of the War Powers Resolution as applied to the Iran conflict. Administration officials argued that an earlier cessation of major hostilities and ceasefire period affected the statutory timeline before fighting resumed.
Lawmakers supporting the resolution contend that Congress has never enacted a declaration of war or specific authorization for the ongoing military campaign against Iran.
The House measure approved Tuesday expressly invokes Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution and directs removal of American forces from hostilities with Iran.
The vote demonstrated growing Republican support for congressional action compared with previous House attempts.
Four Republicans supported earlier efforts to halt the conflict. That number increased to seven Tuesday, when Nunn, Miller-Meeks and Mace joined Barrett, Davidson, Fitzpatrick and Massie.
Supporters framed the resolution as an assertion of Congress’ constitutional authority over prolonged military action. Opponents argued that Iran continues to present a threat to U.S. forces and interests and that restricting the president could interfere with military operations.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., opposed the resolution and questioned which American military capabilities its supporters wanted removed from the region.
“They are a continuous ongoing threat to the United States,” Mast said of Iran. “Enough is enough.”
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a Marine veteran who supported the resolution, argued that Congress should exercise greater oversight over the conflict.
“Remember when Donald Trump said that this war would last just a few weeks?” Moulton said.
He said lawmakers should “actually ask tough questions, as the Constitution directs us to do, rather than be subservient to another warmongering administration.”
The conflict has also produced mounting financial and economic consequences.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that U.S. military operations connected to the war had cost more than $38 billion through Aug. 1 and projected continuing expenses of approximately $2 billion to $3 billion per month depending on the intensity of combat.
Disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz have also affected global oil supplies and contributed to higher fuel costs. The CBO projected that effects associated with the conflict could leave inflation approximately half a percentage point higher than previously expected heading into 2027.
Congress has made repeated attempts to impose limits on the military campaign.
The House approved war powers measures twice during the summer before Tuesday’s third vote. The Senate also approved an Iran war powers resolution after repeated attempts, although senators reversed course the following day after opposition from Trump.
The latest House action does not by itself immediately end U.S. military operations.
For the resolution to have further legal effect through the legislative process, the Senate would also have to act, and a measure reaching Trump could face a presidential veto. Congress would then need the constitutionally required two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override a veto.
Tuesday’s 220-204 vote nevertheless represents another formal declaration by a House majority that continued U.S. hostilities with Iran should not proceed without congressional authorization.
The House action came on the same day Massie introduced his separate impeachment effort against Hegseth, placing both disputes around the same constitutional question: how long the executive branch may continue significant military operations without explicit authorization from Congress.
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