In a rare public challenge to President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the Republican-led U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to approve a House-passed War Powers Resolution aimed at ending hostilities in Iran.
This vote marks the first time both chambers of Congress have aligned in a formal rebuke of the president’s military actions in Iran. The concurrent resolution passed with a 50-48 vote; notably, it does not require the president’s signature, though its legal enforceability remains a subject of ongoing debate.
The Senate’s decision comes as the administration pursues peace negotiations with Iran, a process that has faced criticism from both political parties.
Four Republicans joined the Democratic majority to pass the measure: Senators Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul (Kentucky), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)—who recently lost his primary after a Trump-backed opponent emerged—and Susan Collins (Maine), who is currently engaged in a competitive reelection bid.
In a break from party lines, Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against the resolution. Both Paul and Fetterman have previously diverged from their respective parties on similar War Powers votes regarding Iran.
Republican Senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who was recently hospitalized, and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania did not cast votes. McCormick was accompanying the president on a trip to Pennsylvania at the time.
Constitutional Disputes
Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, maintain that War Powers Resolutions are unconstitutional. This position is supported by a 1983 Supreme Court ruling that questioned the validity of congressional measures that bypass the president’s signature.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) asserted that Congress has successfully “stood up to Donald Trump” to end a conflict he described as “costly, unnecessary, and devastating.”
“For the first time, this resolution has passed both chambers of Congress and does not require the President’s signature,” Schumer stated. “The message from the only branch of government with the power to declare war is unmistakable: the Trump administration must withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities in Iran.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the sponsor of the original House resolution passed on June 3, argued that the measure is binding and demands an immediate cessation of hostilities.
“Regardless of what President Trump says, this measure is binding under the War Powers Resolution,” Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said. “Congress never authorized this failed war, and the president certainly has no authority to continue it indefinitely without our consent as the Constitution demands.”
The White House has declined to comment on the vote.
Status of Negotiations
Administration officials, who claim hostilities concluded in early April, are now operating on a 60-day window to finalize a permanent agreement with Iran.
Under a temporary memorandum of understanding, the administration has lifted economic sanctions on Iranian oil and ended its naval blockade of Iranian ports, enabling the Islamic Republic to resume global oil sales.
The interim agreement also requires Iran to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the unimpeded passage of cargo and tankers. Iran and Oman are currently developing a passage scheme for the critical shipping route, which handled one-fifth of the world’s petroleum before the conflict began.
Despite the talks, President Trump issued threats toward Iran via social media over the weekend as Iran’s newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority continued to implement specific requirements for passing vessels.
According to the Pentagon, the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members and injuries to over 400 others. Thousands of civilians across Iran and the Gulf region were also killed during the fighting.
