7 Republicans side with Democrats as US House moves to curb Trump's Iran war powers
The US House of Representatives has voted for the third time to limit President Donald Trump's authority to continue military action against Iran, with seven Republicans breaking ranks with the White House and voting alongside Democrats.
The war powers resolution passed 220-204 late Tuesday. It directs Trump to remove US armed forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorises further military action.
The vote is the latest attempt by lawmakers to assert Congress' constitutional role over US military operations. Similar resolutions passed by the House in June and July have not reached Trump's desk.SEVEN REPUBLICANS BREAK WITH TRUMP
The seven Republicans who backed the resolution were Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Zach Nunn of Iowa.
Four of them -- Barrett, Davidson, Fitzpatrick and Massie -- had also supported the earlier House efforts. Mace, Miller-Meeks and Nunn joined them in backing Tuesday's measure, giving it more Republican support than the previous votes.
The resolution was introduced by Democratic Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who also is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.
"Remember when Donald Trump said that this war would last just a few weeks?" Moulton said, arguing that Congress should "actually ask tough questions, as the Constitution directs us to do, rather than be subservient to another warmongering administration".
The House vote is significant because it comes nearly seven months after the conflict began. The Trump administration has continued military operations while seeking additional funding for the war.IRAN WAR HAS COST BILLIONS
The vote also came as the Congressional Budget Office released an assessment of the financial impact of the conflict.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the war had cost the Department of Defense about 38 billion dollars through August 1. It projected that the conflict could cost another 2 billion to 3 billion dollars a month, depending on the intensity of fighting. The prolonged conflict has also disrupted oil supplies and contributed to higher energy costs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier Tuesday that he believed the conflict was entering a "new phase" as US allies become more involved in efforts to stabilise the Middle East.
"When that happens, you're going to see, as the president said, anytime gas prices will go down again, the cost of groceries will as well," Johnson said.SENATE ACTION IS UNCERTAIN
The latest House vote does not immediately change US military policy. The measure would still have to clear the Senate before it could reach the US President, and similar efforts have stalled previously. The Senate briefly approved a war powers resolution earlier in the conflict, but Republican senators reversed course the following day after Trump criticised the measure.
Similar resolutions passed by the House in June and July also failed to produce a measure that could be sent to Trump. The June resolution was later approved by the Senate as a concurrent resolution, meaning it did not require the US President's signature, while the July measure stalled after being referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, while the US President serves as commander-in-chief. The War Powers Act, enacted after the Vietnam War, was designed to place limits on prolonged military action without congressional authorisation.- EndsPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Sep 16, 2026 18:01 IST
