Senate rejects resolution to curb Trump's use of military in Iran

USA Today

6 hours ago

Sen. Tim Kaine won congressional approval of a similar resolution to prevent the use of the military in Iran during Trump's first term, but the president vetoed it.
WASHINGTON – The Senate voted against curbing President Donald Trump's use of military force in Iran after the U.S. bombing of nuclear facilities and the fragile cease-fire that resulted.
The 47 to 53 vote on June 27 killed the measure from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, which would have required a congressional vote before using the military against Iran again. His resolution was one of at least three pending in Congress that represented a dispute between the legislative and executive branches about who holds the keys to a U.S. attack on another country.
Trump argued as commander in chief of the armed forces he had the discretion to bomb Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. But Democrats note the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war.
What is a war-powers resolution?
The Constitution gives Congress the power 'to declare war.'
In addition, lawmakers approved the War Powers Resolution of 1973 during the Vietnam War to require the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of military action. The law also limited the deployment of armed forces to 60 days, with a 30-day withdrawal period, in the absence of a formal declaration of war.
But Trump and his allies note he is the commander in chief of the military and that swift, decisive military action is sometimes needed.
'It's a clear attempt to take a slap at President Trump and nothing more,' Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said of the resolution.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said forcing a congressional vote before military operations 'would paralyze this country.' Congress could cut off funding if lawmakers chose to do that, Graham said.
'This is a case study of the chaos that would be created,' Graham said.
Trump told reporters at a June 27 White House news conference that he did not rule out attacking Iran again when asked about the possibility of new bombing of Iranian nuclear sites if deemed necessary at some point.
"Sure, without question, absolutely," Trump said.
Congress serves as check on 'dogs of war': Schiff
Kaine had introduced his resolution days before Trump ordered the bombing against Iran on June 21. Kaine had sponsored a similar measure during Trump's first term that was approved by Congress but vetoed by Trump.
Despite a cease-fire between Iran and Israel, Kaine said the framers of the Constitution placed the decision for declaring war into the hands of Congress even when George Washington was president.
'I pray the cease-fire continues but I fear we're going to be back here on this floor,' Kaine said. 'War is too big an issue to allow one person to make the decision that sends our sons and daughters into harm's way.'
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, said terminating the use of military weapons against Iran doesn't restrict the country from defending itself or sharing intelligence with Israel.
'There must be a check on the dogs of war,' Schiff said.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, said wars are easy to start but often hard to end.
'Let's be clear: the threat was not imminent,' Merkley said. 'The administration instead acted precipitously, putting American lives at risk.'
Two similar war-power resolutions are pending in the House
Two similar resolutions are pending in the House. Votes could come in mid-July.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, introduced one with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California. And the top Democrats of three committees – Reps. Jim Himes of Connecticut on Intelligence, Gregory Meeks of New York on Foreign Affairs and Adam Smith of Washington on Armed Services – introduced another.
"President Trump must not be allowed to start a war with Iran, or any country, without Congressional approval, without meaningful consultation or Congressional authorization," the lawmakers said in a joint statement June 23.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, noted the last declaration of war was for World War II in 1941. But he said there have been 125 military operations since then, including in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Then-President Joe Biden ordered strikes on Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and then-President Barack Obama ordered an eight-month bombing campaign against Libya, Johnson said.
Johnson, a constitutional attorney before launching his politics career, called the war-powers statute unconstitutional and a relic with reporting requirements to Congress no longer necessary because of 24-hour news cycles and social media.
'The strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were clearly within Trump's Article II powers as commander in chief," Johnson said. "It shouldn't even be in dispute."
Americans concerned about Iran retaliating for bombing: poll
Americans were anxious over a brewing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on June 23.
Nearly four out of five Americans surveyed said they worried "that Iran may target U.S. civilians in response to the U.S. airstrikes."
The three-day poll, which began after the U.S. airstrikes and ended early June 23 before Iran said it attacked a U.S. air base in Qatar, showed Americans were similarly concerned about their country's military personnel stationed in the Middle East.