'We've got to worry': Senate GOP blocks Iran War Powers bid for 7th time amid growing concerns

WASHINGTON, DC: The Senate on Wednesday, May 13, rejected, for the seventh time this year, a Democratic-led effort to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military action against Iran without congressional approval.

The resolution failed to advance in a 49-50 vote, though several Republican senators broke with party leadership to support the measure.

Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky joined nearly all Senate Democrats in voting to move the resolution forward.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against the measure.

GOP divided over congressional oversight of Iran conflict

The resolution sought to require congressional approval for future military action involving Iran and direct President Trump to remove US armed forces from hostilities unless authorized by Congress.

Some Republicans who opposed the measure still expressed concerns about Congress’s role in overseeing the conflict.

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said lawmakers should receive greater reporting and oversight as the conflict continues.

“I’ve told the president I support what he did going into Iran, but we’ve got to have, we've got to worry about the reporting to Congress,” Tillis said. “It’s not a popular war right now with the American people, right?”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged Republicans to oppose the measure, arguing that lawmakers should support the president while he is abroad meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

“I think right now the president is overseas, he’s negotiating with the Chinese on a whole range of issues, some of which bear on national security, and I think it would be best if everybody hung together and supported the president,” Thune said before the vote.

Lawmakers also remain divided over whether the 60-day clock under the War Powers Act has expired.

The administration has argued that a ceasefire announced in April paused the timeline, while Democrats contend hostilities have continued despite reduced direct fighting.

“The ceasefire means that there’s not a bombing campaign, it doesn’t mean the hostilities have stopped,” Senator Tim Kaine said before the vote.

Democrats continue pressure campaign over Trump's Iran strategy

Democratic lawmakers criticized the administration’s handling of the conflict and pledged to continue forcing votes on war powers measures in the Senate. 

Senator Jeff Merkley, who sponsored the resolution, sharply criticized the military operation against Iran.

“We have in this situation no access to the highly enriched uranium, we have strengthened the hardliners, we have weakened the reformers, we have damaged our relationship with our allies,” Merkley said ahead of the vote.

Following the failed vote, Merkley wrote on X, “Republicans just BLOCKED my War Powers Resolution to rein in Trump’s unconstitutional war with Iran. Democrats will keep forcing votes on War Powers Resolutions, no more war with Iran!”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also criticized the conflict’s economic and military costs. 

“Trump has sunk at least $29 billion of American taxpayer money into a totally unnecessary war that has no endgame or strategic goals,” Schumer wrote on X.

Senator Dick Durbin echoed those concerns, writing that businesses were reporting “recession-level industry decline” because of the conflict and accusing Republicans of blocking congressional oversight for the seventh time.