The U.S. Senate on Wednesday rejected a Democratic-backed war powers resolution intended to compel President Trump to seek congressional authorization for military actions involving Iran, with the motion failing 50-49 in a vote that largely followed party lines.
The resolution was sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. Every Senate Democrat except one supported advancing the measure, and three Republicans - Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - crossed party lines to join them. Democratic unity was nearly complete, but Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, voted with Republicans to block consideration.
Republican senators have blocked similar measures seven times this year, making Wednesday's vote the latest in a series of unsuccessful efforts by Democrats to require formal congressional authorization for the conflict. Supporters of the resolution argued the Senate must press the president to seek approval from Congress as specified by the Constitution.
The vote was the first to take place in the Senate since the conflict reached a 60-day point on May 1, the deadline established under a 1973 U.S. war powers law enacted after the Vietnam War. That statute permits a president to conduct military operations for 60 days without congressional authorization, after which the president must end such actions, request authorization from Congress, or seek a 30-day extension on the basis of an "unavoidable military necessity regarding the safety of United States Armed Forces" while withdrawing forces.
President Trump said on May 1 that a ceasefire had "terminated" hostilities against Iran. Democrats disputed that characterization, maintaining the conflict continues and that the 60-day clock therefore is in effect. Senator Merkley, speaking to reporters before Wednesday's vote, rejected the notion that a ceasefire suspended the deadline.
"There’s not a cessation of war hostilities," Merkley said, pointing to actions he characterized as ongoing, including a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and strikes on Iranian ships, along with Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on U.S. ships and tankers. "Both sides are still engaged in hostilities, and so I don’t accept that the 60-day clock is suspended," he added.
Merkley and other Senate Democrats said they intend to bring another war powers resolution to the floor next week, and plan to continue doing so every week until either the conflict ends or the president presents Congress with a formal request for authorization. In the House of Representatives, Democrats have also introduced war powers measures; those proposals, like the Senate effort, have been blocked by House Republicans.
Democrats have urged the president to come to Congress to seek authorization to use military force, noting the Constitution vests the power to declare war in Congress rather than the executive. They warned that, in their view, the United States could be drawn into a protracted conflict without a clear strategy if authorization is not sought.
Republicans and the White House maintain that the president’s actions fall within his authority as commander-in-chief to order limited military operations to protect the United States. Some congressional Republicans have accused Democrats of bringing war powers resolutions primarily out of partisan opposition to the president, arguing the measures are politically motivated.
Context and next steps
With the Senate vote failing to advance the resolution, Democrats signaled they will press the effort repeatedly. The prospect of further weekly votes means the issue will remain a recurring point of contention between the parties unless the president seeks formal authorization from Congress or hostilities are demonstrably ended, as interpreted by those lawmakers advocating for a congressional role.