The United States House of Representatives voted on Thursday against a resolution that sought to stop President Donald Trump’s air strikes on Iran unless Congress formally approved the military action. The decision came as the conflict entered its sixth day, with tensions rising across the Middle East.
The vote ended with 219 lawmakers opposing the measure and 212 supporting it, mostly along party lines. The Republican Party, which currently holds a narrow majority in the House, largely backed the president’s military campaign. Only two Republicans supported the resolution, while four Democrats voted against it, highlighting the political divisions surrounding the issue.
Critics of the proposal argued that some lawmakers pushed for the vote primarily because of their opposition to Donald Trump. During the debate, Representative Rick Crawford, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, stated that the resolution would likely not have been introduced if another president had ordered the military action.
Supporters of the measure, however, insisted the vote was about protecting Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war. According to them, the president should not launch a major military operation without first explaining the reasons and seeking approval from elected representatives.
Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the conflict as a “war of choice” initiated without clear goals or an exit strategy. He argued that Americans deserve to know why the United States is involved and how the administration plans to protect national interests and citizens.
The United States and Israel began air attacks on Iran on Saturday, triggering a conflict that has reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, including six American service members, while causing widespread instability across the region.
Even if the House had approved the resolution, it would not have immediately ended the conflict. The measure would still have required approval from the Senate and enough votes to override a likely presidential veto.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from both parties passed another measure reaffirming that Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism.
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president can deploy the military without congressional approval only in limited circumstances. However, such actions must end within 60 days unless Congress authorizes them. This means the Trump administration may need congressional approval by the end of April to continue military operations.
