In a move that marks a historic shift in US congressional dynamics, the Senate voted on June 23 to demand that President Trump halt military operations against Iran. This represents the first time since the enactment of the War Powers Resolution in 1973 that both chambers of Congress have jointly passed such a resolution. However, it is crucial to note that this resolution lacks legal binding force and serves primarily as a symbolic statement of congressional disapproval.
The Senate passed the war powers resolution with a narrow margin of 50 votes in favor and 48 against. The House of Representatives had already approved the measure earlier in the month. Notably, four Republican senators joined all but one Democrat in supporting the resolution, while two Republican senators were absent and did not vote.
This vote highlights the growing unease within Congress regarding Trump’s latest military ventures. The polling data suggests that the war, which began on February 28, has lost public support. The anxiety is not confined to the opposition; even within Trump’s own Republican party, concerns are mounting among members of Congress.
Following the vote, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated, “The vast majority of Senate Republicans have repeatedly sided with Trump and his war, rather than with the American people.” Schumer further criticized the administration, claiming that the American public has already paid the price for Trump’s “historic mistake” on Iran, a move that will likely go down in history as one of the worst foreign policy decisions in US annals.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at the Capitol on June 23. (Associated Press)
Meanwhile, the White House is expected to request hundreds of billions of dollars in funding from Congress to cover the escalating costs of the war.
Currently, Republicans hold only slim majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. With the midterm elections in November just months away, several Republican lawmakers have already broken ranks with Trump on various issues. The outcome of these upcoming elections will determine whether the GOP retains control of Congress.
In recent weeks, numerous Republican lawmakers have opposed Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “Anti-Political Weaponization Fund,” intended to compensate political allies he claims have been targeted by federal agencies. Additionally, a $70 billion bill aimed at intensifying immigration enforcement has stalled due to Republican obstruction.
A joint Reuters/Ipsos poll released on the 23rd revealed that only one-quarter of Americans believe the costs of the war in Iran are justified. Most citizens worry that the ceasefire agreement reached between the US and Iran will not hold for long.
Constitutional Disputes Cast Doubt on Enforcement
The Trump administration is currently negotiating a peace deal with Iran. The joint resolution passed by Congress may pressure Trump to avoid restarting hostilities should negotiations collapse. Trump has previously indicated that he would not rule out renewed military action if talks fail.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, such a joint resolution passed by both houses does not require the President’s signature. When Congress originally enacted this law, it intended for such resolutions to serve as a mechanism to terminate military engagements.
However, legal experts point out that the legal status remains unsettled. No war powers resolution has ever been passed by both chambers before. In 1983, the US Supreme Court ruled that for congressional actions to have legal force, they must go through the complete legislative process and be signed by the President or survive a veto.
The Trump administration has consistently maintained that the War Powers Resolution itself is unconstitutional and therefore non-binding.
A White House official commented on the 23rd, stating that the Senate vote was meaningless because the resolution does not require presidential signature and lacks legal effect. The official added that the resolution passed only because two Republican senators were absent.
The official further noted that while the resolution demands the withdrawal of US troops from conflict zones, the White House believes that military operations had already ceased following the ceasefire agreement on April 7.
Legal experts suggest that the question of whether the War Powers Resolution is constitutional will likely be decided by the courts.
Anderson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and editor-in-chief of the legal media outlet “Lawfare,” stated, “The administration will most likely ignore this resolution on constitutional grounds. It is still unclear who has standing to sue to enforce it.”
Mike Quigley, the New York Democratic Congressman who sponsored the House version of the resolution, asserted that he believes the resolution is binding and intends to use every legal avenue to compel the White House to comply.
Democratic lawmakers also emphasized that the US Constitution grants the power to declare war to Congress, not the President. Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, in his speech urging colleagues to support the resolution, stated, “Congress must step up and shoulder this responsibility.”
Narrow Margin Highlights Symbolic Nature
Although the resolution demands the President end military operations in Iran without a congressional declaration of war or authorization, its status as a joint resolution means it is not legally binding and does not require the President’s signature. Thus, its primary impact is symbolic.
Reports indicate that while the vote is largely symbolic, it represents a political setback for Trump. Not long ago, he could rely on near-unanimous support from Republican lawmakers in Congress.
When the resolution passed in the House, only a few Republican lawmakers switched sides to support it. The final House vote was 215 in favor and 208 against, with four Republican representatives and all Democrats voting in favor.
The four Republican senators who voted in favor are Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Kentucky), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it.
Kentucky Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Pennsylvania Republican David McCormick were absent from the vote.
Democratic lawmakers announced plans to push for further votes on war powers bills, forcing Republican lawmakers to publicly clarify their stance on the Iran conflict.
Additionally, under a law enacted in 2015, Congress has the right to review and vote on any US-Iran peace agreement involving Iran’s nuclear program. This law was passed when the Obama administration was negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran alongside multiple countries.
John Thune, the South Dakota Republican Senator and Majority Leader, stated on the 23rd that he expects Congress will definitely review and vote on the final US-Iran peace agreement once it is reached.
