Senate advances resolution to curb President Trump's authority to strike Iran

The U.S. Senate on May 19 advanced a war-powers resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military action against Iran without congressional approval. Senators voted 50-47 on a motion to discharge the measure from committee, giving Democrats their first successful procedural step after seven failed attempts this year. Four Republicans — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy — joined nearly all Democrats in support, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted no. The vote came one day after Trump said he had called off a planned U.S. attack on Iran to allow what he described as “serious negotiations.” ### What exactly did the Senate vote on Tuesday? The May 19 vote was not final passage. It was a procedural motion to bring the resolution out of committee and onto the Senate floor for further action. Reuters reported the measure would end the Iran war unless Trump obtains Congress’ authorization, while CBS said it marked the first time Democrats had broken through after seven earlier failures. The resolution is being led in the Senate by Tim Kaine of Virginia. CBS reported the measure would direct the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes the action through a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force. ### What does the resolution itself say? (usnews.com) S.J. Res. 172, introduced on April 13 by Senator Raphael Warnock, says Congress has not declared war on Iran and has not enacted a specific authorization for military force there. The text says the purpose of the War Powers Resolution is to ensure that “the collective judgment” of Congress and the president applies when U.S. forces are introduced into hostilities. (cbsnews.com) The same resolution says the United States launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, and that as of April 8, 13 U.S. service members had been killed and at least 380 wounded. It also says a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on April 8, after which the United States announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. ### Why did this vote happen now? (congress.gov) Trump said on May 18 that he had called off a planned military attack on Iran that had been scheduled for the next day. He said Gulf leaders had asked him to hold off because “serious negotiations” were under way, while also warning that U.S. forces were prepared for a larger assault if no acceptable deal emerged. (congress.gov) Kaine said that pause created an opening for Congress to debate the war. Reuters quoted him saying, “That’s the perfect time” to have a discussion before war starts up again, and he accused Trump of receiving diplomatic proposals and not sharing them with lawmakers. ### Who crossed party lines, and who did not? Four Republicans backed the motion: Collins of Maine, Murkowski of Alaska, Paul of Kentucky and Cassidy of Louisiana. (time.com) Reuters and CBS both reported that three Republicans — John Cornyn, Tommy Tuberville and Thom Tillis — missed the vote, which helped Democrats prevail. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to oppose the measure. (usnews.com) Reuters described the vote as a rare rebuke of Trump by members of his own party, though the same report said the resolution still faces steep hurdles. ### What law are senators invoking? The 1973 War Powers Resolution limits how long a president can continue military action without congressional approval. (usnews.com) Reuters reported that under the law, a president can wage military action for 60 days before ending it, seeking authorization from Congress, or requesting a 30-day extension for what the statute calls unavoidable military necessity tied to the safety of U.S. forces during withdrawal. Adam Schiff said on April 30 that the 60-day mark had arrived and that the president had no authority to continue the war past that deadline without Congress. His office said Senate Republicans blocked an earlier attempt that day to bring up a war-powers resolution. (usnews.com) ### What happens next in Congress? The Senate must still take up the resolution itself, and passage there would not make it law on its own. Reuters reported that any final measure would also have to pass the Republican-led House and then survive an expected Trump veto with two-thirds majorities in both chambers. The next concrete step is a full Senate vote on the resolution. (schiff.senate.gov) Kaine, Schumer and other Democratic senators have said they will keep pressing for additional votes, while House Republicans have already blocked three related war-powers resolutions this year, according to Reuters. (usnews.com)