The Senate narrowly rejected a measure that sought to direct President Donald Trump to pull U.S. forces from hostilities in Iran unless Congress formally authorizes the war. The final tally was 49-50. Lawmakers have been here before: the chamber has held multiple votes on ending the conflict since it began, even approving one earlier effort. The White House has brushed that aside, saying the War Powers Act is unconstitutional.
Like the previously adopted version, Thursday's vote took the form of a concurrent resolution, which has no binding legal effect and never reaches the president's desk. Even if it had passed, the outcome would have been largely symbolic. Still, Democratic backers insist Congress holds the power to declare war and that the president must heed their disapproval.
Four Republicans crossed the aisle to support the resolution: Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to oppose it. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D‑Md., was in the building earlier Thursday but did not vote.
An affirmative vote would have instructed Trump to withdraw troops absent explicit authorization from Congress. The legislators driving this push say the Constitution puts war decisions with Congress, not the executive. "The president right now is in violation of the Constitution and the War Powers Act and the concurrent resolution that we've already passed," said Sen. Tim Kaine, D‑Va. "We shouldn't have to do a second one because the president should follow the law, but we are doing a second one on the theory that maybe after a number of months more people will join us, the American public is even more deeply opposed to this war."
The House cleared the measure in July, and it needed only 50 votes to pass the Senate. Recent votes have drawn more Republican support as the administration has blown past its own timelines to seek congressional approval.
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Republicans broadly opposed this latest bid, but the economic fallout is shifting the ground. Some GOP candidates in tight races have broken with Trump and called to end the war to ease pain at the pump, reflecting voter frustration with the conflict's cost. AAA pegs the national average for gas at $4.48 a gallon, and a fresh run-up in diesel is squeezing farmers and truckers.
That spike has rattled Republicans in midwestern states, leading a number of them to put space between themselves and the White House. Lawmakers are set to scatter across the country campaigning for most of October, with the midterms less than six weeks away.
Bottom line for households: the failed vote keeps the status quo on a conflict that has been tied to higher pump prices and pricier freight. That filters into groceries and everything that moves by truck.
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