WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House of Representatives has voted for the third time to end military engagement in Iran, passing a war powers resolution that aims to revoke President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations without congressional consent. The resolution was passed late Tuesday with a vote count of 220 to 204, drawing increased bipartisan support compared to earlier votes this summer.
This latest vote reflects a rise in Republican lawmakers joining their Democratic counterparts in efforts to investigate and potentially cease ongoing military actions. However, these resolutions have not succeeded in reaching the President's desk, where Trump is anticipated to issue a veto, reflecting his administration's stance on the necessity of military action against perceived threats from Iran.
“Remember when Donald Trump said that this war would last just a few weeks?” remarked Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts and a former Marine who has been actively promoting the resolution's passage. Moulton emphasized the need for Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty by questioning the continuation of military actions instead of complying with what he termed a "warmongering administration."
In contrasting viewpoints, Republican Representative Brian Mast of Florida, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, challenged the Democrats on which military resources they would prefer to withdraw from a region where, he asserted, Iran remains a significant threat. According to Mast, Trump is committed to ending “forever wars,” which he defined as the longstanding military hostilities involving Iran.
The timing of this vote is crucial, as it is expected to be the last motion concerning the Iran war before the upcoming midterm elections. This ongoing conflict, which began with Trump’s actions on February 28, has been marred by intermittent and deadly missile strikes, creating significant turmoil in the region for nearly seven months. With less than 50 days until the elections, lawmakers are preparing for campaign efforts, as the war's impact looms large in political discussions.
Voters are facing rising gas prices, heavily influenced by the conflict disrupting oil supply through the vital Strait of Hormuz. The Congressional Budget Office has reported that, as of August 1, the war has cost more than $38 billion, estimating monthly costs to be between $2 billion and $3 billion, depending on the fighting's intensity. Additionally, they predict that inflation rates could be 0.5 percentage points higher than anticipated due to the war.
Trump’s earlier commitment to avoid involvement in foreign wars during his second presidential campaign is now being scrutinized, as public sentiment indicates that most Americans view the war in Iran as unjustified, according to a July AP-NORC poll. In previous votes to cease military operations, only four Republicans supported the motions, but this figure rose to seven in this latest war powers vote, with involvement from GOP members in contentious districts.
Efforts to curb U.S. military actions in Iran have been ongoing, although they face significant obstacles as long as Trump can resist, veto, or disregard the measures put forth by Congress. The House had earlier votes to approve war powers resolutions in June and July, but these also ultimately failed to alter the course of military involvement. Notably, the Senate has similarly struggled, with numerous attempts to address the war, often leading to reversals in support after Trump’s influence during a recent GOP meeting.
The House Speaker, Mike Johnson, recognized the challenge posed by rising gas prices and acknowledged the need for a resolution to the conflict. However, he expressed confidence that the situation is transitioning into a “new phase” with potential cooperation from allies in the region, suggesting that improvements in gas prices and other costs would follow.
