House approves resolution to curb Trump's authority to continue Iran strikes
The House passed a war-powers resolution limiting President Trump's ability to conduct further military action against Iran, with a 220-204 vote that included seven Republicans voting against the president.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 220 to 204 to adopt a resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran. The measure, introduced by Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton, received support from seven Republicans, including three who had not previously voted for similar resolutions.
Republicans who voted in favor this time were Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa, joining four members who had backed earlier attempts. The resolution follows two prior House votes in June and July that also sought to limit the president’s war powers but failed to gain sufficient bipartisan backing.
The Senate has not yet acted on the July war-powers resolution, and it is unclear whether it will consider the latest measure before the end of the session in November. The White House has previously questioned the legality of such resolutions.
The conflict, which began on Aug. 28, has persisted beyond the initial four-to-five-week timeline projected by the administration. The Pentagon says the first phase of operations, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," ended in May, yet exchanges of fire have continued and a ceasefire attempt collapsed in July. Ongoing hostilities have kept regional oil shipments constrained, contributing to elevated global energy prices.
Republicans are pursuing up to $73 billion in additional funding for the war through a reconciliation process, though the effort has stalled in the Senate over unrelated legislative provisions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the war costs the United States roughly $2 billion to $3 billion each month, with a total direct cost of about $38 billion from late February through early August.
"The administration has yet to demonstrate that seven months of war have produced a lasting strategic resolution to the threats posed by Iran," Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during the debate.
President Trump has defended the campaign, claiming it has weakened Iran’s military and asserting that the conflict could end quickly after the upcoming election.