Senate blocks Iran war powers limit despite GOP defection

The Senate failed to advance a resolution limiting Trump’s Iran war powers, after one GOP defection and continued disputes over War Powers clock.

A fresh bid to rein in President Trump’s ability to use military force against Iran collapsed in the Senate, underscoring how hard it is to override the administration’s view of the War Powers clock—even after a new GOP lawmaker joined Democrats.

The Senate rejected a motion to discharge a resolution from committee on Wednesday by a vote of 49 to 50. keeping alive the administration’s ability to act without a new. explicit authorization from Congress.. The effort, led by Sen.. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, sought to require the president to remove U.S.. Armed Forces from hostilities involving or against Iran unless Congress had already authorized force.

While most Democrats supported moving the measure forward. the tally still turned on which Republicans decided to back the procedural step.. GOP Sens.. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with Democrats to advance the resolution.. Sen.. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to oppose.

Murkowski. who had opposed earlier versions. cast her decision as a shift in expectations after a key compliance window passed earlier this month.. She told reporters that once the 60-day threshold under the War Powers framework had elapsed. she expected “more clarity from the administration. ” but did not see it.. The Alaska Republican said she now wanted the Senate to discuss its responsibilities under the War Powers Resolution.

The resolution would have directed the president to end U.S.. military involvement in hostilities against Iran unless there is a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.. Merkley has been pressing the Senate repeatedly; since the start of the current conflict period on Feb.. 28, Democrats have attempted similar limits six times.. Until the most recent iteration, Paul had been the only Republican willing to advance such resolutions.

At the center of the dispute is how the War Powers Resolution’s timeline should be applied.. Under the 1973 law. the president must report to Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces if Congress has not authorized a declaration of war. and any engagement without authorization is capped at 60 days.. As the latest deadline neared. the administration argued that the clock did not continue because a ceasefire was reached on April 7.

In a letter to congressional leaders dated May 1, President Trump said “hostilities” with Iran had “terminated.” Democrats, however, challenged that interpretation, arguing that the situation had not legally or practically reached the kind of finality that would suspend the statutory clock.

Merkley, speaking ahead of the vote, said he does not accept the idea that the 60-day deadline is suspended. He argued the war is “at a different stage,” warning that it “may heat up again.” In his view, the vote would be the first in which Republicans would be judged through that lens.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, GOP Sen.. Jim Risch of Idaho, argued the administration’s reading should prevail.. He told reporters that the “hostilities” referenced in the War Powers framework “do not exist today. ” and said the operations that began on Feb.. 28 were terminated with the April 7 ceasefire.. “They’re over — full stop,” Risch said.

Democratic leaders framed Wednesday’s vote as a test of whether Republicans remain committed to the role Congress is supposed to play when the country is dragged into hostilities.. Sen.. Tim Kaine of Virginia. who has led the push in the Senate. said the measure put Republicans’ stance on Congress’s authority under pressure.

Kaine also linked the political stakes to economic concerns the administration’s critics say are tied to the conflict. including worries about the war’s impact and high gas prices.. He described a growing sense of doubt among Republicans and said he expects the Senate will eventually tell the president to stop the war. even if that moment is not necessarily today.

Merkley pointed to what he described as a gradual decline in enthusiasm and increasing skepticism among some Republicans.. He also suggested two factors might have shaped the final result. including whether Republicans would credit the ceasefire and whether the president being abroad—for negotiations with China—affected the willingness to change positions.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune echoed that framing as he prepared for the vote. emphasizing that the president is overseas and negotiating with Chinese counterparts on issues that can intersect with national security.. Thune said the administration would prefer lawmakers “hung together” in supporting the president. while noting that lawmakers will still make up their own minds on the conflict.

Murkowski’s shift, however, still raised questions about whether the Senate is moving toward a clearer confrontation over War Powers.. She told reporters she is preparing to introduce formal authorization for the use of military force in Iran. while also pressing for accountability on what authority the administration believes it already has.

Her line of questioning focused on whether congressional approval would be necessary if strikes against Iran resume.. During a Tuesday hearing, Murkowski questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the administration’s authority.. Hegseth said the administration’s view is that if the president decides to resume strikes. it would have the necessary authorities.

When Murkowski asked whether it would help the president to have it clearly established through congressional approval that his authority is fully backed, Hegseth responded that the administration believes the president already has the necessary powers under Article II to carry out the decision.

Despite the procedural defeat, the close vote and the presence of multiple Republican supporters—after months of repeated attempts by Democrats—suggest the fight over how far Congress must go to rein in unilateral military action is far from resolved.

Iran war powers War Powers Resolution Senate vote Trump administration Merkley resolution War Powers clock U.S. foreign policy