WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thursday evening, House lawmakers voted down a resolution that would have limited the Trump Administration’s authority to pursue further military action against Iran — without congressional approval.
The vote comes one day after a similar effort failed in the Senate. The failure of the measures in both chambers essentially means that the administration can continue military operations as part of “Operation Epic Fury.”
The debate comes as tensions in the Middle East remain high, raising concerns among some members of Congress that the United States could become involved in another prolonged conflict in the region.
“President Trump has offered the American people no clear objective, no plan, no exit strategy to end this war. Our Constitution is very clear. Congress, not the president, has the power to declare war. By refusing to seek congressional approval for these strikes, President Trump is breaking the law. He is illegally risking American lives for an unauthorized war with no end in sight,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
“Donald Trump and Republicans promised not to get the American people into endless failed foreign forever wars. And yet Donald Trump has just gotten America into an endless war that he acknowledges and plans to be endless,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
Supporters say the resolution is about protecting Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war and avoid prolonged conflicts, but most Republicans say passing the resolution at a critical juncture would have been disastrous.
“It would kneecap our own forces. And it would take the ability of the U.S. military and the commander in chief away from completing this critical mission to keep everybody safe,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., earlier this week.
Even if a similar measure passes both chambers in the future, it would likely be vetoed by the president. Congress can override a presidential veto only by a two-thirds majority vote.
