House votes to curb Trump’s Iran war powers

The House voted Wednesday to direct President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorizes the war, a rare rebuke of the White House that showed growing Republican unease over the conflict.

The Democrat-led war powers resolution passed 215-208, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in support. The Republicans were Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Barrett of Michigan and Warren Davidson of Ohio. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who had opposed three earlier attempts, also voted for the measure, giving Democrats unanimity, CBS News reported.

The resolution was introduced in April by Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It directs Trump “to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran” unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force.

NBC News described the House measure as symbolic and said it would not force Trump to end the conflict. CBS News reported that the measure would force Trump to end the war without congressional authorization. Both outlets reported that even if a war powers resolution were approved by both chambers, it would face a likely presidential veto, and current support falls short of the two-thirds majorities needed in the House and Senate to override one.

Democrats applauded after the vote. The measure had been headed to the floor before lawmakers left for Memorial Day recess on May 21, but House Republican leaders abruptly pulled it when it appeared too many Republicans were absent to defeat it.

The vote followed three failed House attempts this year to pass a war powers resolution. The most recent earlier vote ended in a 212-212 tie. In the Senate, a similar measure advanced in May after four Republicans joined all but one Democrat, aided by three Republican absences. That Senate action was procedural, and Republicans will have another chance to block it before final passage.

House Republican leaders opposed Wednesday’s resolution, arguing it would undercut Trump while his administration is trying to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., called it “just a total BS vote.”

“I think there’s no Democrat, no Republican, that can tell you what forces they would want pulled from Iran. There’s really nothing they actually want pulled from there. They just want a stupid political vote, which is what this is,” Mast said. The vote, he added, “weakens the president’s hands as he’s negotiating with Iran.”

During debate last month, Democrats questioned why Republicans had not brought forward an authorization for the use of military force if they believed the conflict was justified. “If my Republican colleagues believe this is justified, they should bring an AUMF to the floor,” Meeks said.

CBS News reported that support among some Republicans has weakened since the conflict passed a statutory 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. That law says the president must remove armed forces from hostilities if Congress has not authorized the war. The deadline passed May 1, but the administration has argued that a fragile ceasefire in early April stopped the clock, though both sides have carried out attacks since then.

Trump said last month that he was in “no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran before the midterm elections. “Everybody’s saying, ‘Oh, the midterms, I’m in a hurry.’ I’m in no hurry,” he said.

NBC News reported that the House also voted 218-204 Wednesday to advance legislation that would provide aid to Ukraine, using a discharge petition to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leadership. The petition reached 218 signatures on May 13. Rep. Kevin Kiley, a former Republican turned independent, joined all Democrats and two Republicans, Fitzpatrick and Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, in signing it. The House plans to debate the Ukraine aid bill and hold a final vote Thursday, NBC News reported.