US Congress Passes War Powers Resolution to End Hostilities with Iran, Challenging Trump

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) — The U.S. Senate approved a war powers resolution on Tuesday requiring President Donald Trump to end military operations against Iran, marking a significant legislative rebuke amid escalating congressional dissent over the conflict that began on February 28.

The 50-48 vote aligned with the House of Representatives’ earlier passage of the measure, signaling mounting unease even among Trump’s Republican allies about the war’s controversial trajectory. This represents the first time since the 1973 War Powers Act that both chambers have passed a joint resolution to halt presidential military action.

Though largely symbolic, the vote underscores a shift in Republican backing for Trump, whose party holds narrow majorities in both chambers. The president has faced resistance on issues like a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and a stalled $70 billion immigration bill as midterm elections approach.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 25% of Americans believe the war’s costs were justified, with a majority doubting the durability of any truce. The resolution passed along party lines, with four Republican senators—Susan Collins, Rand Paul, Bill Cassidy, and Lisa Murkowski—joining Democrats in support, while two Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, did not vote.

Trump’s administration continues negotiations for a peace deal, though the White House has dismissed the resolution as non-binding, citing the April 7 ceasefire it claims ended hostilities. Legal experts argue the constitutionality of the War Powers Act remains unresolved, with no precedent for enforcement since the 1983 Supreme Court ruling requiring presidential approval for such measures to hold legal weight.

Democratic leaders, including Senator Tim Kaine, emphasize Congress’s constitutional authority to authorize war, while Representative Gregory Meeks, the House sponsor, pledged to pursue legal avenues to compel compliance. Future votes on war powers are anticipated as lawmakers seek to push Republicans into formal positions on the conflict.

The resolution also sets the stage for congressional review of any Iran peace agreement under the 2015 law governing nuclear negotiations, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledging potential oversight in the future.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Don Durfee)

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