The U.S. Senate on Wednesday rejected a Democratic-led war powers resolution that sought to restrict President Donald Trump from continuing U.S. military action against Iran without congressional authorization. The measure failed 52-47, with Sen. Rand Paul the only Republican voting in favor and Sen. John Fetterman the lone Democrat voting no.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday defeated a war powers resolution from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) that would have directed the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities “within or against” Iran unless Congress authorized the action.
The vote was 52-47, largely along party lines. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted with Democrats in support of the measure, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voted against it. Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) did not vote.
The resolution came as lawmakers debated how long U.S. military operations can continue under the War Powers Resolution without explicit congressional approval and amid what supporters described as a fragile ceasefire.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) criticized repeated war powers votes, telling reporters they were “exhausting” and arguing they undermine the president.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called the conflict a “foolish war of choice” and said Democrats would continue pressing for votes to constrain the operation. In a social media post on April 15, Kaine wrote that it had been 47 days since Trump “attacked Iran” and said U.S. servicemembers and “thousands of civilians” had died, while Americans were facing higher gas prices.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would continue forcing votes on war powers measures each week until the conflict ends or additional Republicans support restricting the operation.
Separately, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) wrote in an April 1 op-ed that he supported initial defensive actions but would not back ongoing military action beyond a 60-day window without congressional approval.
Even if a war powers resolution were to pass the Senate, its prospects in the House are uncertain, and the White House has been expected to oppose such limits.
