Payam Javan: The U.S. Senate voted 53-47 on June 27 to reject a War Powers Resolution aimed at requiring President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for further military actions against Iran, reinforcing his authority to act unilaterally. The resolution, led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), followed Trump’s unauthorized strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, sparking debate over Congress’s constitutional role in declaring war. Democrats, joined by a few Republicans like Senator Rand Paul, argued that the strikes risked escalating into a broader conflict without legislative oversight, while most Republicans, including Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), supported Trump’s actions, citing national security and the president’s commander-in-chief powers.

The vote highlighted a deep partisan divide, with Republicans largely dismissing the resolution as unnecessary, especially after a reported Israel-Iran ceasefire. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, briefed prior to the strikes, backed Trump, while Democrats criticized the lack of consultation. Efforts to reassert congressional war powers, including a bipartisan House resolution by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), continue but face slim chances in the Republican-controlled Congress. The debate underscores ongoing tensions over the War Powers Act of 1973, which has been repeatedly sidestepped by presidents of both parties.