On Thursday the House voted 214 to 208 to adopt a war powers resolution directing President Trump to end military action against Iran, and Senate Democrats later tried to advance a separate measure but the effort failed 47 to 49.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, would direct the president "to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, including potential ground forces in a combat role or used for occupation," without express authorization from Congress, and it is nonbinding.
Four House Republicans split with their party and voted for the measure: Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
The Senate vote was on a separate joint resolution that would have the force of law but been subject to a presidential veto; the effort to advance it failed 47 to 49. One Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, joined every Democrat except Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania in voting to advance the measure. Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky did not cast a vote on the Senate measure.
Eighteen U.S. troops have died since fighting broke out in February, four have died since July 17, and U.S. forces have suffered nearly 500 injuries, with about 100 of those coming in the past two weeks, the Pentagon said.
After the vote, Jayapal said the measure sends Mr. Trump "a clear message" and that the war has had "no clear mission, no strategy, no end goal," adding that "hostilities have been driven over and over again by a president who won his election by promising to end forever wars."
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Democrats have other tools to force an end to the war, including the "power of the purse," and said he is introducing a resolution "to sue the administration" that he plans to force a vote on when the House returns from its summer recess in five weeks.
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., held up photos and read out the names of 18 service members killed since the war began, and said, "To belittle this mission is to belittle and demean the very service these members gave their life for."
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of the start of military hostilities and the law limits military hostilities to 60 days unless Congress votes to authorize military force, with an extra 30-day grace period if the president determines more time is necessary to safely withdraw U.S. forces. Mr. Trump notified Congress on July 10 that "military action" against Iran had formally restarted after he declared a monthlong ceasefire "over."
The administration requested $67 billion in supplemental funding to help cover the cost of the conflict and replenish military supplies and is seeking $1.5 trillion to fund the Pentagon in the next fiscal year. On Wednesday House Republicans advanced a plan to provide up to $73 billion in funding for the Iran war and up to $12 billion in aid to farmers; two Republicans and one independent who caucuses with Republicans voted in opposition. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators Tuesday that the U.S. had spent $37.5 billion on the war so far, and American airstrikes have continued as officials on both sides remain dug in over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a dispute that has contributed to gas prices spiking again.
The House vote was largely symbolic and does not carry the force of law; it represented Congress' second successful rebuke of Mr. Trump's Iran war effort.