Republicans in the US House of Representatives unexpectedly called off a scheduled vote on Thursday concerning a resolution that would require President Donald Trump to obtain congressional authorization before engaging in military action against Iran. This vote was planned just hours before lawmakers were set to depart Washington for the Memorial Day recess.
In a significant development, this decision came shortly after the US Senate advanced a comparable war powers resolution, marking a rare congressional challenge to Trump’s management of the conflict with Iran. Earlier this year, House Republicans had blocked three similar resolutions with overwhelming party support, reflecting strong backing for the military campaign and the president.
However, recent weeks have seen waning support for the war as the conflict has persisted since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. The latest resolution was widely anticipated to pass, as several Republicans indicated they might break ranks, and some lawmakers were absent during the vote.
Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the votes were clearly in favor of the resolution and that Republican leaders postponed the vote until early June, following the Memorial Day break.
Democrats, along with a minority of Republicans, have insisted that Trump must seek formal congressional approval before continuing military operations against Iran, citing the US Constitution’s allocation of war-declaring powers to Congress rather than the president. Critics have also expressed concerns about the risk of the United States becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict without a defined strategy.
Meanwhile, the White House and most Republicans maintain that Trump’s actions fall within his authority as commander-in-chief, arguing that limited military operations are essential to counter imminent threats to the United States. Currently, Republicans hold narrow majorities in both the House and Senate.
On Tuesday, the Senate passed a similar war powers resolution with a vote of 50-47. Notably, four Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting the measure, while three Republicans were absent from the vote.
