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The House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a third effort to limit Donald Trump’s military authority in Iran, though growing Republican support for the measure underscored rising unease inside the GOP over the length and scope of the conflict.
The Democratic-led War Powers Resolution failed in a 212-212 tie vote, narrowly missing the majority needed for passage. The measure would have directed Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran within 30 days unless Congress formally authorized the war.
The vote marked the first House test of the issue since the expiration of the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day deadline earlier this month.
Three Republicans — Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom Barrett — joined most Democrats in supporting the resolution. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden voted against it.
The resolution was originally introduced March 4 by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, days after Trump launched military operations against Iran in coordination with Israel on Feb. 28.
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, presidents must terminate military hostilities within 60 days unless Congress authorizes continued action.
The administration formally notified Congress of hostilities on March 2, triggering a May 1 deadline for congressional approval.
However, the White House argued the clock effectively stopped after a ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran on April 7. Administration officials have maintained there were no active “hostilities” after that date, despite subsequent military tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Democrats and some Republicans have accused the administration of sidestepping Congress’ constitutional authority over war powers.
“I didn’t want to have to bring this resolution to the floor,” Gottheimer said during debate Wednesday night. “I had hoped that the administration would have changed course after I introduced it and properly briefed the Congress and the country.”
Gottheimer said he supported efforts to weaken the Iranian regime but criticized the administration for failing to provide lawmakers with formal briefings and operational clarity.
The White House has argued Trump acted within his constitutional authority as commander in chief and insists the ceasefire paused the War Powers clock.
Critics, however, say the ongoing naval standoff and intermittent exchanges around the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate that hostilities remain active.
Republican divisions deepen
Thursday’s vote highlighted a growing divide among Republicans over the administration’s handling of the war.
Barrett, one of the GOP lawmakers backing the resolution, recently introduced a separate authorization for use of military force that would formally allow Trump to continue military operations through July 30 while imposing a deadline and congressional oversight.
“Two things have been clear from the very beginning: Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the United States of America cannot be dragged into another endless war,” Barrett said in a statement.
Rep. Don Bacon has joined Barrett as a Republican co-sponsor of that proposal, while Rep. Blake Moore has also expressed support.
The latest House vote showed modest but notable movement compared with earlier attempts to rein in Trump’s authority.
When the House first voted on the issue in March, only two Republicans backed the measure. Democratic support has also solidified over time, with several Democrats who initially opposed the effort later reversing course.
In the Senate, Democrats have now forced seven separate votes on similar War Powers resolutions, though each has failed.
Still, Republican support has slowly increased.
Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski recently joined Sen. Rand Paul in voting to advance a resolution limiting Trump’s authority.
Murkowski said this week that the administration’s lack of transparency contributed to her decision.
“We’re in a different place than we were last time we voted on this,” she said, referencing the expiration of the 60-day statutory deadline.
Sen. Tim Kaine, a longtime advocate for congressional war powers, predicted Republican resistance to the war could continue growing.
“There will be a day, and it might be soon, where this Senate will say to the president, ‘stop this war,’” Kaine said Wednesday.
The Iran conflict has increasingly complicated Trump’s political standing as energy prices and inflation rise amid instability in the Middle East.
The administration has defended the military campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to protect regional security interests.
But lawmakers from both parties have voiced concern about the possibility of a prolonged military entanglement without clear congressional authorization.
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have introduced nearly a dozen additional War Powers measures, ensuring the issue could continue surfacing on the House floor in coming weeks.
“We will keep holding Republicans in Congress accountable for as long as they enable this reckless, illegal war,” caucus chair Greg Casar said in a statement.
Democrats in both chambers say they intend to continue forcing votes on Trump’s Iran war powers, hoping additional Republican defections could eventually push a resolution through Congress.
Even if lawmakers ultimately pass a War Powers Resolution, supporters acknowledge they are unlikely to secure the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.
Still, proponents argue repeated votes could increase political pressure on the administration to scale back military operations or seek formal congressional approval.
