House Republicans Delay Iran War Powers Vote Until June

House Republicans on Thursday postponed a scheduled vote on a war powers resolution that would have required President Trump to end U.S. military operations against Iran, after it became clear that enough GOP members would join Democrats to pass the measure. The decision pushes any action on the resolution until after the Memorial Day recess, when lawmakers return in June.

The resolution, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, invokes the 1973 War Powers Resolution to limit the president’s ability to sustain hostilities without explicit congressional approval. Trump initiated the conflict on Feb. 28 without prior authorization from Congress, and the United States has remained engaged even after a fragile ceasefire took hold in early April. The measure had already come close to passage once before, ending in a 212-212 tie last week after three Republicans broke with their party.

Thursday’s maneuver came after Republican leaders determined that absences among their members would leave them short of the votes needed to block the bill. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise acknowledged that some Republicans who supported the underlying policy were simply not present and would be given another opportunity to record their positions upon returning from recess. Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, described the delay as an attempt to avoid accountability while American forces remain committed to the operation.

Support for the war has eroded in recent weeks even within Republican ranks. Lawmakers from both parties have cited the conflict’s effects on global energy markets and the resulting rise in domestic gasoline prices. The Pentagon has reported 13 U.S. service members killed, hundreds wounded, and roughly $25 billion spent since operations began. The Senate has already advanced a parallel resolution with support from four Republican members, underscoring the measure’s potential to attract bipartisan backing.

The episode illustrates the continuing tension between congressional war powers and executive initiative. Past Congresses have often deferred to presidents during the opening phases of military action, only to reassert oversight once costs become visible and public sentiment shifts. In this case, the combination of economic pressure and battlefield attrition appears to have accelerated that recalibration among some Republicans who had previously backed the administration’s approach.

By postponing the vote rather than allowing it to proceed, House leadership preserved short-term party unity but left the underlying divisions intact. When members return in June, they will confront the same arithmetic: a resolution that already nearly passed once and that continues to draw support from lawmakers concerned about both the strategic direction of the conflict and the institutional balance between the branches.