Republicans postpone – Republicans in the House declined to hold a vote on a Democratic war powers resolution that would require President Donald Trump to withdraw from the war with Iran, pushing planned action into June. The delay came as GOP leaders struggled to secure the votes t
By the time Thursday’s scheduled House vote approached, Republican leaders had already decided the numbers weren’t there.
Democrats had put forward a war powers resolution that would compel President Donald Trump to withdraw from the war with Iran. But as it became clear Republicans would not have enough votes to defeat the measure. GOP leaders declined to hold the vote at all—delaying planned action on the issue into June.
“We had the votes without question and they knew it, and as a result they’re playing a political game,” said Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, who sponsored the bill.
The House delay was the latest signal of slipping support in Congress for a conflict Trump launched more than two months ago without congressional approval. Republicans in the Senate are also working to ensure they have the votes to dismiss another war powers resolution that advanced to a final vote earlier this week. after four GOP senators supported it and three others were absent.
House Republican Leader Steve Scalise said the vote was delayed to give lawmakers who were absent a chance to vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson did not answer questions from reporters as he exited the House chamber.
On Capitol Hill, frustration with the Iran war has grown as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have shaken global shipping and helped elevate gas prices in the U.S. Another House war powers resolution nearly passed last week and fell on a tie vote after three Republicans voted in favor.
Meeks said he believed the votes were “locked in” for this time.
“People are beginning to finally listen to the American people who don’t support the war in Iran, and I think there’s a growing number of Republicans who see how devastating the war has been for our country,” said Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state.
The lone Democrat who voted against the war powers resolution last week, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, has said he will vote in favor of the legislation next time.
Republicans have been broadly supportive of Trump’s efforts to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities. but some lawmakers are now questioning whether the president’s legal timeline to wage war without congressional approval has expired. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. presidents have 60 days to engage in a military conflict before Congress must either declare war or authorize the use of military force.
“We’re past 60 days so it’s got to be brought to us to vote on. We’re following the law,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, said, adding that he plans to vote for the war powers resolution.
The legal standoff continues to hinge on competing interpretations of what the War Powers Resolution requires—and what counts as the end of the conflict. The White House argues those requirements no longer apply because of a ceasefire with Iran.
Trump has also pointed to the pace of negotiations. Earlier this week, he said he was “just an hour away” from ordering another strike on Iran, but held off because Gulf allies said they were engaged in negotiations to end the war.
Still, Trump wrote on social media that military leaders should “be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.” He has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran and then backed off.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who has so far voted against the war powers resolutions, said he is frustrated with the administration’s stance, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“The current status quo, Pete Hegseth demonstrates how incompetent he is,” Tillis told reporters. Tillis said he would be willing to vote for an authorization for use of military force.
Outside the Capitol earlier this week, Democratic senators rallied Wednesday alongside VoteVets, a left-leaning veterans’ advocacy group. They placed signs on the Capitol lawn noting that the nationwide average price of gasoline had risen to $4.53.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat who served in the Iraq War with the Air National Guard, argued that the Iran war has become a strategic blunder for Trump.
“Trump started a war, and he’s made things worse than before,” Duckworth said, pointing to Iran’s new leadership and the country’s willingness to put a chokehold on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Republican leaders have praised Trump for what they describe as bold action to confront Iran, a U.S. adversary for decades.
“I’m an American. I don’t believe in getting hit and walking away and pretending as though it didn’t happen,” said Rep. Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
If pressure builds and Congress moves forward, the political clash could eventually turn into a legal showdown over who has final authority over military conflicts.
The legislation before the House is a concurrent resolution. Lawmakers said it would take effect without Trump’s signature if it passed both chambers of Congress.
Trump has also argued that the 1973 law passed during the Vietnam War era is unconstitutional.
For now. with Republicans conceding they do not have the votes for the House measure and delaying the decision until June. the war powers dispute is becoming less about theory and more about whether party discipline can hold as the conflict—and its consequences—keep expanding into daily life at home.
Iran war war powers resolution Donald Trump Congress House vote Republicans Democrats Mike Johnson Steve Scalise Strait of Hormuz gasoline prices