WASHINGTON — In a historic first, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to pass a war powers resolution aimed at stopping military action against Iran, delivering a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump as several Republicans crossed party lines to join Democrats in ending the three-month conflict that has reshaped domestic and international politics.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had attempted to block an outcome that would demonstrate growing opposition to the war, abruptly halting floor proceedings two weeks earlier when the resolution appeared headed for passage. However, dissatisfaction has continued to mount as the conflict continues and Trump faces challenges in negotiating a peace agreement.
Wednesday’s vote tally stood at 215-208, though what happens next remains unclear. Trump would probably veto any congressional measure aimed at restricting his authority as commander-in-chief. Nevertheless, the count, which saw four Republicans side with Democrats, represented a clear rejection of the president’s military strategy, prompting applause to break out on the House floor.
“This reckless and costly war of choice needs to end today,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York stated earlier this week.
“All we need are a handful of Republicans to join us and we can end this reckless and costly war of choice — a war that has cost the American taxpayer over $100 billion — that’s extraordinary — and left our country in a weaker position relative to Iran.”
This marks the fourth attempt by the House to restrict the U.S. military campaign against Iran. The Senate moved forward with its own war powers resolution last month when several GOP senators broke with the Republican president in an uncommon display of political resistance from within his party.
With each Democratic push for the war powers resolution, vote counts have gradually increased as political discomfort with the U.S. military engagement grows. Trump had run for president pledging to conclude U.S. military involvement overseas and concentrate on domestic priorities, but the conflict has redirected focus back to the Middle East.
Johnson maintained that Trump remains “laser focused” on domestic matters, especially with midterm elections approaching that will decide congressional control.
The speaker revealed he spent three hours at the White House with the president this week as Trump seeks allied assistance to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic, particularly oil shipments.
Following the U.S. decision to join Israel in launching Feb. 28 attacks on Iran, Americans have experienced rising fuel costs, contributing to inflationary pressures on consumer expenses.
Iran has succeeded in disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for a significant portion of global oil, natural gas and related commodities like fertilizer.
“We’re working on that final piece,” said Johnson, R-La. “The entire world has an interest in the Strait of Hormuz being reopen for commerce. That what he’s working on.”
Although a ceasefire was announced in April, it remains fragile and unpredictable. Negotiations for a more lasting resolution to the hostilities have stalled, made increasingly complex by Israel’s expanding conflict with Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. At the same time, military exchanges between the U.S and Iran persist.
The House war powers resolution would not immediately halt the conflict, but it would represent a symbolic and potentially legal move against additional military operations.
The measure now moves to the Senate, where four Republican senators last month joined Democrats in advancing similar legislation to limit the U.S. campaign against Iran. The Senate has not yet held a final vote to pass or defeat its own war powers resolution.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned Wednesday during testimony before a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that Iranians would believe the administration’s “hands are going to be tied” if Congress passed a war powers resolution. He argued they would think “we won’t be able to do anything to them, so why make a deal?”
This isn’t the only national security action Congress is pursuing as Democrats, though in the minority, attempt to gain Republican support for measures extending beyond the Iran conflict.
The House is also voting Wednesday on another Democratic-sponsored initiative that would authorize U.S. assistance for Ukraine’s military operations in its fight against Russia and help rebuild the devastated nation. The House this week is also anticipated to review a war powers resolution to prevent U.S. involvement in Lebanon.
While Congress holds constitutional authority to declare war, the president also possesses commander-in-chief powers to engage in military operations, establishing a legal conflict over which governmental branch has final authority in war and peace decisions.
According to the war powers act, the White House has 60 days to obtain congressional approval for military action. The administration has suggested that since a ceasefire has been declared in the current Iran conflict, hostilities have ended.
