A small group of House Republicans broke with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, joining Democrats in approving a resolution designed to limit the president’s authority to conduct military operations in Iran.
The measure was introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and supported by 14 other House Democrats, including Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. Republican votes ultimately gave the resolution the support it needed to pass.
Seven Republicans joined all 213 Democrats who voted in favor, sending the resolution through the House by a 220-204 vote late Tuesday night.
The opposition included 203 House Republicans, along with Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., who caucuses with the GOP.
Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., said he had held the same position since the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day authorization period expired. “I’ve been consistent on that since the war powers provision expired after 60 days of engagement,” Barrett told Fox News Digital before the vote Tuesday.
Republicans supporting the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iran have maintained that the Constitution gives Congress—not the White House—the power to formally declare war.
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president can generally deploy U.S. forces into hostilities for up to 60 days without congressional approval. In certain situations, the law allows another 30 days for the withdrawal of troops. Backers of the House resolution contend that the authorized period has already run out.
The Trump administration disputes that interpretation, arguing that the president is acting within his constitutional role as commander in chief. Officials have defended the ongoing military campaign in Iran, warning that the resolution could interfere with the president’s ability to safeguard American troops and protect national security.
The Iran conflict has emerged as a major political flashpoint during the current midterm election cycle. It has exposed divisions within the Republican Party while giving Democrats an opportunity to accuse Trump of leading the country into another “forever war.”
Lawmakers and analysts have also linked the conflict to rising gasoline prices, an issue expected to rank among voters’ top concerns in the elections.
The military operation also prompted Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a prominent critic of Trump’s overseas interventions, to seek a vote on impeaching Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Even so, most House Republicans continue to support Trump and argue that his actions fall squarely within presidential authority.
“The president has done a good job managing all this,” Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital.
“We need to stand with the president right now and with the Iranian people. And the president’s done what he promised the American people, that he wasn’t going to let them have a nuclear weapon.”
The Senate approved a comparable war powers resolution in June, with several Republicans also breaking ranks to oppose the president.
But even if an identical bill passes both chambers, Trump has indicated he opposes such legislation, meaning it would likely face a presidential veto if it gets to his desk.
