An MV-22 Osprey prepares to take off on the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli during Operation Epic Fury on April 2, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps)
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday for a fifth time failed to advance a measure that would have opened debate on halting the war in Iran as Republicans continued to block efforts to assert congressional war powers.
The vote, 46-51, mirrored previous attempts by mostly Democrats to require the U.S. to withdraw forces from the conflict unless Congress authorizes further action. Democrats have vowed to force such votes weekly as long as the war persists.
“Every day we hear new promises from the Trump administration — that victory has been achieved, that peace is at hand, that the costs are starting to come down — and every day we see the opposite,” said Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “Trump can talk all he wants, but nothing will change until he realizes this war needs to end.”
Republicans have largely resisted intervening in the conflict, though some have said they would want a vote on authorization once the war reaches the two-month mark by the end of April or if President Donald Trump decides to send in ground troops. The U.S. attacks began Feb. 28.
Under the War Powers Act of 1973, U.S. forces must be withdrawn from a conflict after 60 days unless Congress either declares war or authorizes the use of force, though the White House can request a 30-day extension for national security reasons.
As in previous votes, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to break with his party on Wednesday, and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans.
Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Dave McCormick, R-Pa.; and Mark Warner, D-Va., did not vote.
The failure to again open debate on the Iran war came a week after the Senate shot down a similar measure and the House barely beat back an effort by Democrats to advance a war powers resolution of their own.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., forced the latest vote on Wednesday, arguing it was time to rein in Trump, who launched the war alongside Israel without making the case for its necessity to Congress.
“We have the power to end this war of choice that is costing American troops their lives and American families their savings,” she said. “Those who vote no are choosing not to use that power.”
Republicans maintain that now is not the time to curtail the president’s authority.
Sen. Roger Wicker, of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be dangerous to tie Trump’s hands while so many service members remain engaged in the Middle East and warned it could potentially undermine peace talks between Washington and Tehran.
“If negotiations have a chance, the Senate should give [negotiators] the leverage they need,” he said.
The status of those talks remained uncertain this week after a planned second round of negotiations was put on pause.
Trump announced the extension of an expiring ceasefire on Tuesday, but the battle over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for energy supplies, has continued. The U.S. maintains a naval blockade on ships from Iranian ports, and Iran on Wednesday seized two cargo ships.
