House Votes to Rein In Trump’s Iran War

The House voted Thursday to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to expand the war with Iran, its first war powers action since a temporary agreement with Tehran collapsed and fighting resumed.

The resolution, led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), passed 214-208. Four Republicans — Reps. Tom Barrett, Brian Fitzpatrick, Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson — joined Democrats as renewed fighting raised fears of a wider conflict.

“The president is once again showing his contempt for Congress and for the Constitution, continuing this destructive, deadly, and costly war despite Congress having already passed a War Powers Resolution that has the force of law,” Jayapal said Wednesday.

This was the House’s second vote to end the war. Like the first, which happened in early June, this vote cannot legally force Trump to stop the fighting. But the vote adds to signs of bipartisan concern over his decision to continue the war without congressional authorization as the conflict intensifies.

Four U.S. service members were killed in the latest escalation, bringing the American death toll to 18. More than 430 troops have been wounded since the war began. U.S. strikes against Iran have continued for 12 consecutive nights.

One of the Republican backers of the House war powers resolution, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, said the collapse of peace negotiations and the troop deaths might be driving GOP support. He said he has been supporting the resolutions to assert Congress’ powers over the executive branch.

“I follow the law,” Fitzpatrick said. “Under the War Powers Act of 1973, it says you’ve got to give a 48-hour notification, and after 60 days of hostilities, you’ve got to come to us” for authorization.

The administration says Trump has sufficient authority under the Constitution’s Article II to continue the campaign.

“We have all the authorities necessary at this moment,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.

Trump told Congress in a July 10 letter that hostilities had resumed July 7 after the administration accused Tehran of violating a memorandum of understanding that had paused the fighting. The administration says the renewed campaign started a new 60-day period under the War Powers Resolution, a position lawmakers in both parties have questioned.

Republicans opposed to the resolution argued that limiting Trump during active hostilities would undermine U.S. forces and benefit Iran.