A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft refuels a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft during Operation Epic Fury on April 5, 2026. (U.S. Air Force)
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted down for the fourth time an attempt by Democrats to force an end to the Iran war as the conflict stretched into a seventh week and a two-week ceasefire neared expiration.
The 52-47 vote to curb President Donald Trump’s ability to take future military action against Iran without congressional approval was the first time lawmakers weighed in on the conflict since Congress returned from a two-week recess this week.
As in previous votes to open debate on the issue, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican to side with Democrats. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against the measure.
The vote Wednesday is expected to be the start of a flurry of similar actions in the coming weeks. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats have filed about 10 more war powers resolutions, in addition to a handful of others that have yet to be called up.
“If Republicans block it, we will vote again. And again. And again. Every single week until Operation Epic Failure ends — or Congress does its job and authorizes it, which I know it won’t, given how bad this war is,” he said.
The resolution rejected Wednesday was led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a former Army helicopter pilot who lost her legs fighting in the Iraq War.
“I ran for Congress to honor the men and women who carried me out of the bloody war zone,” she said in a floor speech. “I made a promise that when the drums of war started beating again, I would be in a position to make sure that our elected officials fully consider the true cost of war, not just in terms of money but in human lives.”
Trump has repeatedly declared the conflict, which began on Feb. 28, “close to over,” but negotiations to end the war have stalled. More than 10,000 service members this week began enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway Iran has choked off from most commercial traffic.
A ceasefire is set to expire on April 21. On April 28, the Trump administration will reach a deadline that requires congressional authorization for continued military operations after 60 days of hostilities. Federal law mandates the withdrawal of U.S. forces unless Congress authorizes their presence, though the administration can seek a 30-day extension.
Some Republicans have indicated that two months of fighting would mark the point when a serious debate on the war would be needed. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said this week that the panel will likely hold a hearing on the conflict in May.
But on Wednesday, most Republicans continued to stand by the president. Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defended Trump’s authority to wage war and said he was right to attack Iran alongside Israel.
“We did not start a war with Iran, we don’t want a war with Iran, but we have to defend ourselves,” he said.
