In the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran that have killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others, Congress faces an escalating war powers showdown between Republicans backing President Donald Trump and Democrats seeking to assert legislative authority over ongoing military action.
Democratic lawmakers are pushing for immediate votes this week on War Powers Resolutions aimed at restricting further U.S. military operations in Iran without explicit approval from Congress. “The Constitution says we’re not supposed to be at war without a vote of Congress,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), one of the Senate resolution’s sponsors, urging lawmakers to return to Washington to act.
House Democrats, backed by a few Republicans such as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), are also pressing for a vote in the House that would require Trump to seek congressional authorization before continuing hostilities.
Most Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), have signaled strong support for the president’s actions and are expected to oppose efforts to constrain Trump’s military authority.
The confrontation highlights a deep rift over presidential war powers, with Democrats calling the strikes unauthorized and Republicans defending Trump’s unilateral decisions even as Congress struggles to reclaim its constitutional role.
