The Senate failed to pass a resolution intended to curb President Donald Trump’s use of military force in Iran on Friday.
The proposal from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) was one of at least three in Congress aimed at resolving a power struggle between lawmakers and the White House over who has the authority to authorize a U.S. military strike abroad.
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The resolution would have required congressional debate and a vote before the U.S. takes any offensive measures against Iran. It included language to clarify that the restriction would apply only to offensive military operations, stating U.S. support for Israel’s defensive actions against Iran or its proxy forces would remain unaffected.
The Senate voted 47 to 53, with the vote coming down mostly along party lines. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voted with Democrats for the resolution, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted with Republicans.
“I’m going to vote no on that because I would never want to restrict any future president, Republican or Democrat, to do this kind of military exercise,” Fetterman said, speaking with reporters ahead of the vote.
Under Senate rules, the measure had an expedited path to a floor vote. The majority of Republicans defended Trump’s actions, emphasizing his role as commander in chief and arguing that quick, decisive military responses are sometimes necessary to protect national security.
Under the Constitution, the power to declare war rests with Congress. The War Powers Act of 1973 reinforces that authority by requiring the president to inform lawmakers within 48 hours of initiating military operations in the absence of a war declaration.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump ordered three of Iran’s nuclear sites destroyed by six 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs and 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
DEMOCRATS PUSH AHEAD WITH WAR POWERS VOTE AMID FRAGILE CEASEFIRE
Senators were briefed on Thursday after the Trump administration abruptly canceled a classified briefing on Tuesday that was planned to update lawmakers on the strike. The briefing was rescheduled to accommodate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who were traveling in Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was not part of the briefing.
Kaine last introduced a resolution focused on Iran in 2020, following Trump’s drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. At the time, eight Republicans, Susan Collins (ME), Todd Young (IN), Jerry Moran (KS), Mike Lee (UT), Rand Paul (KY), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Bill Cassidy (LA), and former Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN), broke ranks to join Democrats in backing the measure.
While Sen. Collins has previously voted in support of previous resolutions, she voted against it on Friday, releasing a statement on Friday night expressing support for Trump’s targeted strike on Iran.
“Given this backdrop, it is the wrong time to consider this resolution and to risk inadvertently sending a message to Iran that the President cannot swiftly defend Americans at home and abroad,” Collins said.
She added, “I continue to believe that Congress has an important responsibility to authorize the sustained use of military force. That is not the situation we are facing now.”
This marks the third time Kaine has pushed for a vote on a resolution since Trump took office, following earlier efforts related to the president’s use of tariffs and his policy of deporting migrants to El Salvador.