Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black fires a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile in support of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy)
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers from both parties are pushing for a vote on a war powers resolution to restrain President Donald Trump’s administration’s military operations in Iran.
The U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran last weekend that killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Operations are now targeting the country’s nuclear capabilities, missile infrastructure and navy, defense officials said.
Counterattacks have claimed the lives of six U.S. service members.
A war powers resolution would curb further combat operations against Iran without explicit authorization by Congress.
“Article I of the Constitution explicitly provides Congress with the authority to declare war. Period, full stop,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the House Minority Leader, told CNN.
Defense officials, speaking at a news conference Monday, said that the U.S. is sending more forces to the Middle East and has not ruled out limited ground force operations.
They are scheduled to brief Congress on Tuesday in closed-door sessions about the strategy and scope of continuing joint military operations.
Trump has estimated that the joint combat operations are likely to continue for four or five weeks.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., are leading the bipartisan concurrent war powers resolution in the House.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., are leading a corresponding effort in the Senate.
The resolution directs “the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”
Several Republican lawmakers pledged to join Democrats to push for passage.
“War requires congressional authorization. There are actions short of war, but no case has been made,” said Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, a former Army Ranger.
But the resolution — if passed in the GOP-led Congress — could largely be symbolic, as it would face a near-certain veto from President Donald Trump.
Congress would need to override a Trump veto, which would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
Kaine said Saturday that “every single senator needs to go on the record” with their votes.
“For months, I have raised hell about the fact that the American people want lower prices, not more war — especially wars that aren’t authorized by Congress, as required by the Constitution, and don’t have a clear objective,” Kaine said.
