Congress Fails to Curb Trump's War Powers in Iran

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate narrowly rejected resolutions on May 13 and 14, 2026, that would have restricted Donald Trump's authority to wage war against Iran. The Senate measure failed 50-49, with Democratic Senator John Fetterman casting the deciding vote against it. The House resolution ended in a 212-212 tie, failing to reach a majority after Representative Jared Golden, the sole Democrat, opposed the measure.

The conflict began on February 28, 2026, with Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites that killed the Iranian leader. While the 1973 War Powers Resolution required congressional authorization by May 1, the administration argues that a ceasefire beginning April 7 terminated hostilities and paused the 60-day clock. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended these actions, asserting the president possesses full authority under Article II of the Constitution.

Despite the legislative defeats, Republican support for the war is fracturing. In the Senate, Senator Lisa Murkowski flipped to support the resolution, joining Susan Collins and Rand Paul in opposition to the conflict. In the House, Republicans including Tom Barrett and Brian Fitzpatrick crossed party lines. Critics point to ongoing naval blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and rising domestic gas prices as evidence that hostilities continue. Trump, while attending a summit in Beijing with Xi Jinping, dismissed economic concerns, stating his primary focus remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.