Senate votes to curb Iran war powers in symbolic rebuke of Trump
The 50-48 vote marked the Senate’s first approval of an Iran war powers resolution after repeated failed attempts, the Associated Press reported.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
The Senate voted Tuesday to approve a war powers resolution aimed at limiting U.S. military action against Iran, a symbolic rebuke of President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict. The Associated Press reported that the 50-48 vote was the first time the Senate had passed such a measure on the Iran war after 10 attempts.
The resolution does not carry the full force of law, according to AP, and the House and Senate versions do not go to Trump for a signature. Even so, AP reported that the vote reflected widening concern in Congress, including among some Republicans, over the war and the agreement Trump reached with Iran to end it.
The House passed its version earlier this month, AP reported. Four House Republicans joined Democrats in supporting it despite opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders.
Trump criticized the Senate vote Tuesday night on Truth Social, AP reported, calling it “poorly timed and meaningless” and saying it gave “aid and comfort” to Iran. AP reported that Trump also attacked the four Republican senators who supported the measure and said they had made his job harder.
Four Republicans joined Democrats
According to AP, Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted for the resolution. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against it.
AP reported that two Republicans missed the vote: Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who had recently been hospitalized for an undisclosed matter, and Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania. Their absences left Republicans without enough votes to stop the resolution in the closely divided chamber.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Republicans had repeatedly sided with Trump and the war rather than the public, AP reported. Schumer also called Trump’s actions in Iran a historic foreign policy mistake.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who has led the party’s push for war powers votes, said the pause in fighting gave Congress a chance to consider the next phase, according to AP. Democrats have forced repeated votes on the war since the U.S. and Israel launched missile strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, AP reported.
Funding fight follows war vote
The vote came as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought about $80 billion in supplemental defense funding, mostly tied to the Iran war, AP reported. The Pentagon is asking Congress for money to replenish munitions and stockpiles after the conflict, according to AP.
AP reported that the Pentagon estimated early in the war that the first week cost $11.3 billion. Senators said outside experts placed the total cost of Operation Epic Fury at about $100 billion, according to AP.
The funding request is part of a broader defense push by the White House, AP reported. The Trump administration is seeking $1.5 trillion in defense funding this year, including $350 billion through a budget reconciliation package that Republican leaders are trying to pass over Democratic objections, according to AP.
Trump is expected to meet with Senate Republicans at the Capitol on Wednesday, AP reported. The meeting follows Vice President JD Vance’s overseas work on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, one of the stated rationales for the war, according to AP.
AP reported that the Iran agreement Trump signed last week is laid out in a memorandum of understanding that starts a 60-day period for the two sides to seek a broader deal on ending Iran’s nuclear program. Some Republicans have objected to a $300 billion fund to help Iran rebuild, AP reported.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.