The US House of Representatives has voted for the third time to approve a war powers resolution aimed at ending military action in Iran. The resolution, which passed with a vote of 220-204 late Tuesday, seeks to limit President Donald Trump's ability to conduct military operations without congressional approval. This vote saw seven Republicans joining all Democrats in support of the resolution, with three of those Republicans voting in favor for the first time.
Republican Congressman Zach Nunn from Iowa stated that "with the negotiating window closed, sustained combat operations now require congressional authorization," expressing his opposition to another open-ended war.
Despite the House's approval, previous resolutions have not reached the president's desk, where a veto is expected. Republican Representative Brian Mast of Florida, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, raised concerns about the military resources that Democrats would want to withdraw from the region, citing Iran as an ongoing threat to the United States. Mast emphasized that Trump is working to end what he termed "forever wars" involving Iran.
This vote is likely the last action by the House on the Iran conflict before the upcoming midterm elections, where foreign policy issues are influencing political campaigns. The conflict, which began with military actions initiated by Trump on February 28, has continued for nearly seven months, involving missile strikes and resulting in instability in the region.
A report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicated that the cost of the war has reached $38 billion, with projections of an additional $3 billion per month. The report also forecasts an increase in inflation by 0.5 percentage points in the first three months of 2027 due to the war.
Public sentiment appears to be against the war, with a July AP-NORC poll indicating that most Americans believe the conflict has not been worth fighting. Congressional efforts to limit military actions against Iran have faced challenges, particularly as the president retains the power to veto such measures. The House first passed a war powers resolution in June, followed by another in July, while the Senate has also attempted to pass similar resolutions, though these efforts have often been reversed under pressure from Trump.
The War Powers Act, established after the Vietnam War, aims to clarify the limits of presidential military authority, requiring congressional approval for sustained military actions beyond a specified period.