Four House Republicans rebel against Trump, help pass War Powers Resolution

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

In the second congressional rebuke of the Trump administration’s mission against Iran, the U.S. House passed a War Powers Resolution when four Republicans joined Democrats in a 215-208 vote on Wednesday.

Reps. Warren Davidson from Ohio, Thomas Massie from Kentucky, Tom Barrett from Michigan and Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania crossed party lines Wednesday, while seven Republicans did not vote.

“I felt that this was something that was an important measure for Congress,” Barrett told reporters after the vote. “Congress has the exclusive authority in the Constitution to declare war.”

The House vote occurred on day 95 of the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has cost the lives of 14 U.S. military servicemembers and at least $29 billion.

Congress never authorized the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, nor any of the administration’s military actions that followed. President Donald Trump initially invoked the War Powers Act of 1973, which gives the president 60 days to conduct military operations without congressional approval.

The 60-day limit has long passed, but the Trump administration has skirted the requirement by temporarily declaring a ceasefire, a move the Pentagon argues resets the 60-day clock.

Yet even if the House’s War Powers Resolution successfully clears the Senate – which narrowly advanced its own resolution in May – it is unlikely the administration will heed it. Presidents have historically ignored War Powers Resolutions, which are difficult to legally enforce and therefore largely symbolic.

In the meantime, public opinion of the Iran conflict continues to sour. As of Wednesday, poll averages show that about 38% of American voters approve while 58% disapprove of America’s involvement, according to RealClearPolitics’s analysis of all major polls on the issue.