Washington – The US House of Representatives is expected on Thursday to reject a bipartisan effort to curb President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran, underscoring Congress’s reluctance to confront the White House in the early days of a rapidly expanding Middle East conflict.
The resolution, led by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, would invoke the 1973 War Powers Resolution to require Trump to obtain congressional authorization before continuing military operations against Tehran.
But the measure is widely expected to fail, a day after the Senate rejected a similar effort. Even if it were to pass, Trump could veto it—a step that would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override, an almost impossible threshold in the current Congress.
‘War of Choice’
Democratic leaders have sharply criticized the administration for launching the campaign without congressional approval.
“Donald Trump intentionally refused to get authorization from Congress for this war of choice, a war that has now exploded to more than 10 countries across the Middle East,” said House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Democrats argue the administration has offered shifting explanations for the strikes and has failed to demonstrate that Iran posed an imminent threat requiring immediate military action.
Republican Unity
Republican leaders have rallied behind Trump, arguing that limiting his authority during an ongoing military campaign would embolden Iran and endanger US troops.
“I think passage of a war powers resolution right now would be a terrible, dangerous idea… It would empower our enemies,” House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters. “It would kneecap our own forces, and it would take the ability of the US military and the commander in chief away in completing this critical mission to keep everybody safe.”
Johnson urged Republicans to oppose the measure, describing the military operation as “limited, precise and extremely lethal,” as well as a “remarkable success.”
Constitutional Context
Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. The 1973 War Powers Resolution—passed after the Vietnam War—was intended to prevent presidents from committing US forces to prolonged conflicts without congressional consent.
Massie, one of the few Republicans willing to break with the administration, defended the resolution on constitutional grounds.
“Under our Constitution, the power to initiate war rests solely with Congress,” he said. “Congress owes our service members a clearly defined mission, so that when they accomplish it, they can come home.”
American Casualties
The congressional debate unfolds against a backdrop of mounting American losses. Six US servicemembers have been killed in retaliatory strikes since the campaign began, including an attack on a US base in Kuwait.
The conflict, now in its second week, has already seen the assassination of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and has triggered retaliatory attacks across the region, drawing in multiple countries and threatening global economic stability.
What’s Next
With the House resolution expected to fail, Trump retains broad authority to continue the military campaign. The vote nevertheless highlights deep constitutional tensions and sets the stage for further debates should the conflict expand or American casualties rise.
