WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted this week to approve a war powers resolution directing President Donald Trump to halt further U.S. military action against Iran without congressional authorization, marking a rare bipartisan rebuke of the president’s handling of the conflict. The measure passed on Tuesday by a 50-48 vote, with four Republicans joining most Democrats in support.
The resolution, advanced under the War Powers Act framework, seeks to require the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress specifically authorizes military action. The vote followed months of debate over a conflict that began earlier this year and has generated growing concern among lawmakers from both parties regarding presidential war-making authority.
Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Rand Paul of Kentucky joined Democrats in backing the measure. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against it, while two Republican senators were absent. The outcome represented the first successful Senate passage of such a resolution since the conflict escalated.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer argued that Congress should reassert its constitutional role in decisions involving military action. Supporters of the resolution said lawmakers had not authorized the conflict and should have a direct role in determining whether U.S. forces remain engaged.
The Trump administration and many congressional Republicans opposed the measure. Critics of the resolution argued that it could restrict the president’s flexibility in dealing with national security threats and ongoing diplomatic negotiations involving Iran. Some Republican lawmakers also questioned whether the resolution would have binding legal effect.
The vote came as the administration sought additional funding from Congress related to the Iran conflict. On Tuesday, the White House submitted a supplemental funding request that included tens of billions of dollars for military operations and related defense needs, according to administration documents.
“This is the vote whether to go to war or not,” Senator Rand Paul said during earlier debates over similar legislation, emphasizing Congress’s constitutional role in authorizing military action.
The House of Representatives had previously approved a similar measure. While legal experts and lawmakers continue to debate the practical effect of the resolution, it does not require the president’s signature and its enforceability remains uncertain.
As of June 25, the Senate’s action stood as one of the strongest congressional challenges to Trump’s conduct of the Iran conflict, while lawmakers continued to weigh funding requests and monitor ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Tehran.
