Congress Moves to Limit Trump Powers
Lawmakers are convening to bar Trump from offensive decisions alone amid ongoing government funding disputes and the Iran conflict. Critics argue Congress is too dysfunctional to manage even basic operations like keeping the government open, let alone foreign policy.
This week, a bipartisan resolution to require congressional approval for further military action against Iran was defeated in the House by a 212-219 vote. A similar effort also failed to pass the Senate, leaving the administration's authority to continue its military campaign unchallenged for now. The votes were framed by supporters as an attempt to reassert Congress's constitutional power to declare war, a right granted under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Presidents from both parties, however, have argued that their role as commander-in-chief allows for military action without prior congressional approval. At the heart of the debate is the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Passed over President Nixon's veto following secret bombings in Cambodia, the law requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids forces from remaining for more than 60 days without an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or a declaration of war. The conflict also renews focus on broad military authorizations from past conflicts. The 2001 AUMF, passed after the September 11th attacks, has been used by four administrations to authorize military operations in at least 22 countries. There have been recent bipartisan efforts to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF, arguing it is obsolete and vulnerable to misuse. The struggle over war powers occurs against a backdrop of disputes over basic government funding. The federal government has experienced 15 funding gaps since 1980, with the most recent shutdown lasting 43 days. These frequent budget battles contribute to the perception of a Congress unable to manage its core responsibilities.
