US House Votes to Restrict Trump's Iran War Powers as Conflict Enters 12th Day

The United States House of Representatives has approved a resolution limiting President Donald Trump's ability to conduct military operations against Iran, marking the first such legislative action since a ceasefire between the two nations collapsed.

The measure cleared the chamber on Thursday with a 214-208 vote, drawing support from four Republican members who crossed party lines to side with Democrats. The vote came nearly one week after three American service members were killed in an Iranian strike on a military installation in Jordan.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that Democrats would push for a comparable War Powers vote in the upper chamber on the same day.

A Repeated Legislative Effort

Lawmakers in both the House and Senate had previously approved a similar resolution in June, urging the president to obtain congressional authorization before initiating additional military strikes against Iran. However, because that earlier measure was advanced as a concurrent resolution, it was not forwarded to the president's desk for signature or veto.

Even had the June measure been passed as a joint resolution — which would have required transmission to the White House — the president retained the ability to veto it. Overriding a presidential veto demands a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.

Democratic legislators described the newest resolution as a significant signal that Congress opposes the administration's handling of the conflict, which intensified following the dissolution of a ceasefire in early July.

Twelve Days of Sustained Hostilities

The United States and Iran have exchanged attacks for twelve consecutive days. Some analysts have cautioned that a more extensive American military escalation could be forthcoming, pointing to repeated statements by Trump threatening strikes on civilian infrastructure and a potential ground invasion.

Speaking from the House floor on Wednesday, Representative Pramila Jayapal framed the vote as a matter of institutional responsibility.

"This is a vote that requires us to find the strength to do what is right for the American people, and to send the clearest, even stronger message to this president of the United States that the United States Congress, the House of Representatives, is reasserting our authority over war," she said. "This war must end."

Constitutional and Legal Questions

The US Constitution grants Congress the exclusive authority to declare war, a power the legislative body has not exercised since World War II. Presidents may commit forces in situations involving immediate self-defense.

Trump has contended that the totality of Iran's actions since 1979 constitutes an imminent threat justifying military action. Numerous constitutional law scholars have disputed this assertion.

Under the War Powers Act of 1973, presidents are required to obtain congressional approval within 60 days of deploying troops. While the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran commenced on February 28, the Trump administration maintained that hostilities had "terminated" after a temporary cessation of fighting was reached in April.

Experts on war powers and certain members of Congress have argued that this attempted legal workaround violates the law. The administration did notify Congress that fighting had resumed prior to the most recent series of attacks.

Funding the Conflict

David Janovsky, acting director of The Constitution Project at the Project On Government Oversight, released a statement on Thursday characterizing the House vote as a reaffirmation of public sentiment against unauthorized military engagement.

"Contrary to the administration's claims, the latest hostilities are not a new war. We're now months past the constitutional deadline for the administration to end this unauthorised war," he said.

Janovsky also highlighted that the House had approved a comprehensive $1.15 trillion defense spending bill on Tuesday, which includes tens of billions of dollars in additional funding for the war. The Senate has not yet taken up the legislation.

"If Congress is serious about bringing an end to this prolonged conflict, it must also refuse the administration's request to fund it," he added.

The vote underscores a growing legislative push to reassert congressional authority over military engagements, even as the conflict between the United States and Iran shows few signs of abating. With the Senate preparing for its own vote and the defense spending package still pending, the coming days may prove pivotal in determining the trajectory of American involvement in the region. Share this article and join the conversation — how should Congress balance national security with its constitutional war powers?

Source: Al Jazeera English