Trump Iran war powers measure stalls in Senate after House rebuke

The Senate rejected a Trump Iran war powers measure Thursday, voting 47 to 49 against moving forward with a resolution that would have ordered U.S. forces out of hostilities involving Iran unless Congress explicitly approved them.

The vote came only hours after the House adopted a separate war powers resolution, adding a fresh congressional rebuke as the conflict with Iran has escalated in recent days.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland led the Senate resolution. According to the text of the measure, it would direct the president to “remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran” unless Congress passed a declaration of war or a specific authorization for the use of military force.

One Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, joined Democrats in voting to advance the measure. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote no. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky, who have backed similar war powers efforts before, did not vote.

What did the Senate vote on Trump Iran war powers?

The Senate voted on whether to advance a resolution aimed at limiting President Trump’s ability to keep U.S. forces in hostilities involving Iran without direct congressional authorization. The effort failed, leaving the measure short of the support it needed to move ahead.

Across the Capitol, the House voted 214 to 208 earlier Thursday to adopt a war powers resolution introduced by Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington. Four Republicans broke with their party to support it: Reps. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Democrats have forced repeated votes on Iran since the conflict began in February, using the measures to challenge the administration’s handling of the war and pressure Republicans. Thursday’s Senate vote was the chamber’s first action on the issue since a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire collapsed earlier this month.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Republicans before the vote to join Democrats and “end this war, get our troops out of harm’s way, and force Trump to face the reality of this catastrophe.” He said Democrats would continue pressing the issue and force more votes.

What is the War Powers Resolution?

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires a president to notify Congress within 48 hours after sending U.S. forces into hostilities when Congress has not declared war. It also sets a 60-day limit for unauthorized military action, with a possible 30-day extension.

The Trump administration said earlier this year that the 60-day clock did not apply because a ceasefire reached April 7 had stopped it. In a May 1 letter to congressional leaders, Mr. Trump said hostilities with Iran had ended. He formally notified Congress earlier this month that military action against Iran restarted on July 7.

The conflict has since intensified. According to the reporting, the U.S. launched a 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure Wednesday. The death toll rose to 18 after three U.S. soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan last week, and another service member died in Iraq during a controlled explosion to destroy an Iranian drone.

Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana, a former Navy SEAL, defended the conflict on the Senate floor. He said U.S. troops and families had absorbed attacks for decades and argued that service members now deployed are “defending us in a just war.”

Earlier efforts have produced uneven results. In May, four Republicans joined Democrats to move forward with a similar measure led by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. In June, the same four Republicans helped adopt a House-passed concurrent resolution, but after pressure from GOP leaders and a tense meeting with Trump, key Republicans changed course and a later effort fell short.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.