US House Votes Down War Powers Check on Trump's Iran Action

The US House of Representatives on Thursday rejected an effort to rein in President Donald Trump's authority to wage war against Iran, a move that underscored sharp partisan fault lines over presidential war powers. The failed War Powers Act resolution, introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, would have required the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of troop deployments and would force a withdrawal within 60 days unless Congress authorized the use of military force or declared war, with a possible 30-day extension.\n\nHouse Speaker Mike Johnson argued publicly that the United States is not at war and warned that stripping the president of authority in what he described as a "limited operation" would be a dangerous gamble. He stressed that ongoing actions in the region are not a declared war, even as critics note an undeclared conflict has persisted for decades. Johnson said it would be dangerous to take away the president's ability to execute what he has called Operation Epic Fury.\n\nThe vote, 219-212, reflected a largely partisan split. Only four Democrats—Henry Cuellar of Texas, Juan Vargas of California, Greg Landsman of Ohio, and Jared Golden of Maine—defected to oppose the measure, while only one other Republican, Warren Davidson of Ohio, joined Massie in supporting it. Khanna criticized the Republican turnout, saying, "The Republicans now own this war," while praising the Democrats who had previously voiced concern about the proposal.\n\nSupporters of the measure argued that without timely reporting and a defined timetable for withdrawal, presidents can wage broader conflicts without meaningful congressional oversight. Opponents countered that the War Powers Act would hamper the president's flexibility in what they call a limited action to deter or respond to threats in the Middle East. The clash comes as Trump faces mounting criticism over his handling of Iran-related escalation and as lawmakers seek clearer constitutional guardrails.

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