Neither Democrats nor Republicans have shown serious commitment to reclaiming Congress’s constitutional authority over war. This pattern defines the Iran war powers struggle, where leaders across both parties treated Congress’s war power as a scheduling issue rather than a constitutional duty. Democrats hesitated when votes appeared imminent, while Republicans ultimately killed resolutions once they seemed ready to pass.
This week, House Republican leadership made their evasion impossible to miss. Just as a resolution introduced by Representative Gregory Meeks of New York—then the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee—appeared poised to gain sufficient support for passage, GOP leaders withdrew it twice.
The resolution would require President Donald Trump to halt unauthorized military operations against Iran unless Congress approved such action. It emerged following nearly three months of conflict, rising fuel prices, growing public opposition, and increasing unease among Capitol Hill lawmakers.
Recent reports indicate House lawmakers abandoned plans to vote on the measure earlier this month as a two-week recess approached, pushing any potential vote into late April. A previous war powers resolution co-sponsored by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khana (D-Calif.) had failed shortly after the conflict began when four Democrats—Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Greg Landsman of Ohio, and Juan Vargas of California—joined most Republicans in defeating it.
Within weeks, pressure shifted to include many lawmakers supporting a new resolution. This made delays increasingly difficult to justify.
Meeks’s office rejected claims he was undermining his effort, stating he was “whipping a vote precisely so it passes,” and that accusations were “absurd.” However, critics maintained that the delay increased risks of deeper U.S. involvement and loss of life.
By mid-April, Meeks defended the measure on constitutional grounds, noting: “The Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. Don’t take my word for it—even the president acknowledged this by saying, ‘As a war, you’re supposed to get approval from Congress.’”
On May 14, the House deadlocked 212 to 212 on the resolution. Three Republicans—Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Tom Barrett of Michigan—joined Democrats in support, while Jared Golden of Maine was the sole Democrat to oppose it.
The next day, the Senate advanced a similar resolution, marking its first progress after seven failed attempts. Four Republicans joined Democrats in support, while one Democrat, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted “Nay.”
House Republican leadership canceled the House vote—first on Wednesday and then again on Thursday—handing Democrats a political victory born from their own retreat.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) accused Republican leadership of acting as “a wholly-owned subsidiary” of the Trump administration, stating they cowardly pulled the vote on a resolution that would have passed with bipartisan support.
Republican leaders offered procedural justifications, but their actions revealed a commitment to the vote count over constitutional duty. House Leader Steve Scalise claimed the delay was to allow absent lawmakers time to vote, while Speaker Mike Johnson declined to address questions.
The debate underscores a fundamental principle: if Trump believes the conflict is necessary, he should seek congressional authorization. Lawmakers supporting the war must openly advocate for it and cast votes to authorize; those opposing it must clearly state their case and support ending it.
The Founding Fathers designed Congress as the branch responsible for declaring war, recognizing that the executive branch “is most interested in war, and most prone to it.” As James Madison warned, this constitutional structure ensures war powers remain with the legislature.
Another canceled vote is not neutral—it is a choice. Congress must authorize or reject force, demand limits, and cut funding. It cannot hide behind the president while claiming to honor the Constitution.
The president continues the war because Congress remains complicit through inaction.