A Senate effort to restrict President Donald Trump’s authority to launch military action in Iran has failed, leaving the administration free to continue airstrikes amid growing instability in the Middle East.
The resolution, supported by both parties, was defeated 53-47, mostly along partisan lines, reflecting deep divisions in Congress over the scope of presidential war powers.
The proposal would have required Trump to seek congressional approval before carrying out further military operations against Iran.
Democrats criticized the president for acting independently and offering inconsistent explanations for the strikes, while the majority of Republicans opposed the measure, although some indicated they could reconsider if hostilities escalate.
The United States and Israel began targeting Iranian positions on Saturday, prompting Iran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US-allied countries in the Gulf.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Wednesday that the military campaign could last up to eight weeks, nearly double the time frame mentioned by Donald Trump earlier in the weekend.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration had kept Congress informed, noting that senior congressional leaders were notified before the initial strikes and that Trump sent a letter on Monday, despite maintaining that such notice was not constitutionally required.
Trump has a history of acting without Congress, including last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and the January operation to seize Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
"To begin with, no presidential administration has ever accepted the War Powers Act as constitutional – not Republican presidents, not Democratic presidents," Rubio said, referring to the 1973 law passed to limit presidents’ war-making authority following the Vietnam conflict. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to alert Congress within 48 hours of military action and to seek authorization for continued hostilities within 60 days.
Since 2001, the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed after the 9/11 attacks has been cited to justify US operations across the Middle East, despite multiple failed attempts to repeal it.
Two senators broke party lines in Wednesday’s vote. Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against the measure, while Republican Senator Rand Paul supported it. All other senators voted according to their party stance.
Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican, opposed the bill, arguing it would send the wrong signal to troops on the ground and to Iran. "At this juncture, providing unequivocal support to our service members is critically important, as is ongoing consultation by the administration with Congress," she said.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer urged passage before the vote, framing it as a choice between the American public, tired of endless Middle East wars, and Trump and Hegseth’s push into further conflict.
The legislation will now move to the House of Representatives, where its passage remains uncertain. While the president can order military action without formally declaring war, federal law mandates that Congress be notified within 48 hours once hostilities begin.
