A measure aimed at restricting US President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran has been rejected in the House of Representatives, marking the latest failed effort by lawmakers seeking greater congressional oversight of the conflict.
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The resolution, introduced by Democrats, was defeated by a narrow margin of 213 to 214 on Thursday. The vote came one day after the Senate rejected a similar proposal, underscoring the difficulty opponents face in curbing the president’s war powers.
Although supporters argued the measure would reaffirm Congress’s constitutional role in decisions over war, the proposal was largely symbolic and unlikely to become law even if it had passed both chambers, as Trump was expected to veto it.
Narrow Vote in the House
The House vote revealed limited cross-party support. Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only member of his party to vote alongside Democrats in favour of the resolution.
Democratic Representative Jared Golden of Maine broke with his party to oppose the measure, while Republican Warren Davidson of Ohio chose to vote “present”, effectively abstaining.
Gregory Meeks, a Democratic congressman from New York who sponsored the legislation, said after the vote that he would continue trying to build support for the measure. He indicated he planned to introduce another resolution in an attempt to pressure lawmakers to reassert congressional authority over military actions.
The House had already narrowly rejected a similar proposal last month. In that vote, two Republicans supported the measure while four Democrats voted against it.
Senate Also Blocks Resolution
The prospects for the resolution were already dim following the Senate’s decision a day earlier to reject its own version of the proposal.
That measure failed in a largely party-line vote of 47 to 52, with most Republicans opposing efforts to limit the president’s authority to carry out military operations against Iran.
Even if either chamber had approved the legislation, supporters would still have faced the challenge of passing it through the other chamber and overcoming a likely presidential veto.
Debate Over War Powers
The debate comes amid ongoing US military operations linked to the conflict involving Iran. Some Republican lawmakers have suggested their opposition to the resolution could change if the war continues for an extended period or expands beyond its current scope.
Trump has offered varying assessments of how long the conflict may last, recently telling reporters that the war was “close to over”.
Under US law, the president must seek approval from Congress if military engagement continues beyond 60 days. The current conflict began on 28 February following US-Israel strikes.
The legal framework governing these limits stems from the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Congress passed the legislation in an effort to curb presidential authority after then-President Richard Nixon continued US involvement in the Vietnam War without explicit congressional approval.
The law was designed to ensure lawmakers have a formal role in deciding whether prolonged military action should continue.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 April 2026
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