Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a procedural motion to advance a War Powers Resolution that would have required President Trump to withdraw U.S. Forces from the conflict with Iran. The vote was 47-49, with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine breaking ranks with Republicans to join Democrats in support, while Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the sole Democrat to oppose it.
Several senators were absent from the vote, including Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who have previously backed efforts to limit the president's military authority. Republican leadership Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Katie Britt of Alabama also did not participate.
Despite missing the vote, Paul restated his opposition to the conflict. "I think the Iran war has not been a success. I've been opposed to the Iran war from the beginning. I think by any objective measure we're worse off than we were before the war," He said following a Senate hearing.
Other Republican senators voiced concerns about the war's direction. Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia stated, "There's got to be an off-ramp, that's all there is to it," And noted that three U.S. Service members had been killed in the past week. The conflict has claimed 18 American service members overall.
On Wednesday, President Trump warned that U.S. Forces would strike civilian infrastructure around Tehran, including bridges and power plants, if Iran attacks ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the resolution's sponsor, argued that Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority over military decisions as the conflict has expanded following the collapse of the ceasefire. Sen. Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, countered that Iran's regime poses a grave threat requiring military confrontation, stating, "This regime that we are fighting does not care about our partisan politics...They want to kill all of us and they don't just say it, they actually do it."
Earlier Thursday, the House approved a separate War Powers Resolution 214-208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support.
This Senate action follows a June vote on a non-binding resolution calling for an end to military operations against Iran, which prompted a contentious White House meeting. After that meeting, President Trump criticized Republican senators who supported the measure. Subsequently, both Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Paul shifted their positions - Cassidy voting against a later proposal by Sen. Tim Kaine after receiving a briefing from Vice President JD Vance, while Paul voted "present" To give the president negotiating space.
Thursday's measure would have been legally binding, unlike the June resolution. Even if Congress had approved it, the proposal would have required the president's signature to take effect.