The US Home of Representatives votes 219-212 towards a decision requiring Congress’s approval for additional army motion on Iran.
Printed On 5 Mar 2026
The US Home of Representatives has narrowly rejected a struggle powers decision that may have halted President Donald Trump’s struggle on Iran and required congressional authorisation for any additional assaults.
The vote on Thursday was 219 to 212 within the Home, the place Trump’s fellow Republicans management a slender majority of seats.
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It’s the second vote in as many days, after the Senate defeated an analogous measure alongside occasion traces.
Underneath the US Structure, solely Congress can declare struggle. Presidents can unilaterally conduct some army actions, however authorized students have lengthy argued that, below the founding US doc, that authority solely applies in cases of instant self-defence of the nation.
“Donald Trump just isn’t a king, and if he believes the struggle with Iran is in our nationwide curiosity, then he should come to Congress and make the case,” mentioned Consultant Gregory Meeks, the highest Democrat on the Home Overseas Affairs Committee.
The Home additionally permitted a separate measure affirming that Iran is the most important state sponsor of terrorism.
Republican Consultant Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee, publicly thanked Trump for taking motion towards Iran, saying the president is utilizing his personal constitutional authority to defend the US towards the “imminent menace” the nation posed.
Mast, a military veteran who labored as a bomb disposal knowledgeable in Afghanistan, mentioned the struggle powers decision was successfully asking “that the president do nothing”.
Nevertheless, after launching a shock assault towards Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win assist for the struggle on Iran, a battle People of all political persuasions had been already cautious of getting into.
Trump administration officers spent hours behind closed doorways on Capitol Hill this week making an attempt to reassure lawmakers that they’ve the scenario below management.
Six US army members had been killed over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait, and Trump has mentioned extra People might die.
1000’s of People overseas have scrambled for flights, many lighting up telephone traces at congressional places of work as they search assist making an attempt to flee the Center East.
