US Senate Passes Resolution Seeking to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers

This was the Senate’s 10th attempt to stop the war, and the 50-48 vote was a striking reversal from past efforts. While the resolution is largely symbolic and does not have the full force of law, it reflects growing concern among some Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate about both the war and Trump’s deal with Iran to end the war. Parliament approved the resolution earlier this month.

“At times, the vast majority of Senate Republicans have sided with Trump and his war rather than with the American people,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.

Schumer said Americans are “paying the price for Trump’s historic mistake in Iran.” “This will go down in the history books as one of the worst foreign policy moves America has ever made.”

Four GOP senators have voted for war powers resolutions in the past, and they did so Tuesday — Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. One Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted against it.

The absence of two Republicans in that vote, including Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who was recently hospitalized for an undisclosed matter, left the GOP unable to gain a full majority to stop the effort.

The vote also comes as the Pentagon is demanding $80 billion from Congress for the Iran war, mostly for munitions and replenishing stockpiles.

Trump to meet with senators as Republicans oppose Iran deal

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Trump himself will head to the Capitol this week to meet with GOP senators, while Vice President J.D. Vance is working abroad to negotiate with Iran to end its nuclear ambitions, which are among the stated justifications for the war.

The President is unhappy with Republicans criticizing his deal with Iran, according to a GOP senator who was granted anonymity to discuss private dynamics.

The terms of the Iran deal are spelled out in the Memorandum of Understanding that Trump signed last week, which begins a 60-day period for the parties to reach a broader agreement on ending Iran’s nuclear program.

But Republicans specifically objected to the $300 billion fund earmarked to help rebuild Iran; That’s far more than the $1.7 billion then-President Barack Obama’s administration returned to the country under the 2015 Iran deal.

“I believe President Trump received very poor advice on Iran,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said on his podcast last week after the deal was made public.

Democrats repeatedly pushed to vote for Iran

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Democrats have repeatedly tried to vote for the Iran war almost since the United States and Israel launched missile attacks on Iran on February 28.

Senate Democrats advance war powers resolutions while in session nearly every week, but have failed to muster the majority needed for passage in the narrowly divided chamber where Trump’s Republican Party holds the majority.

The House passed its own version earlier this month, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in approving the war powers resolution, over the objections of House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leadership.

This is the House resolution that the Senate will consider on Tuesday. Although such resolutions do not go to the president for signature or do not have the force of law, the resolution would remain a strong, if symbolic, statement by Congress and a condemnation of the administration’s military actions.

“Why is this vote different?” asked Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat who is leading his party’s effort.

Kaine said the pause in fighting as Trump’s team tries to shore up a fragile ceasefire provides the perfect time for Congress to step back and consider “what the next chapter should be.”

Hegseth asks Congress for $80 billion for Iran war

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is also on Capitol Hill this week, seeking approximately $80 billion in additional funding to bolster defense supplies in the wake of the Iran war. This situation is being scrutinized as many Americans remain reeling from high gas prices and costs of living.

The Pentagon estimated the cost of the war at US$11.3 billion in its first week, and experts estimate the total cost is close to US$100 billion.

The Defense Department’s funding request is part of a broader military boost the White House is seeking as part of this year’s budget request.

The Trump administration is seeking $1.5 trillion in defense funding this year, a 50 percent increase, including $350 billion in the so-called budget reconciliation package. Johnson and GOP leaders are working to pass this package on their own despite objections from Democrats, just as they passed Trump’s massive tax cut bill last year.

The 2025 tax cut package also included a big plus of about $175 billion for the military. (