House lawmakers are preparing a fourth attempt this year to limit President Donald Trump’s military operations in Iran. Some Republicans may join Democrats in backing a new War Powers resolution, though no vote has been scheduled.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said the measure could reach the House floor within the next few legislative days or possibly around Christmas. He said he was trying to persuade more members of his party to support it.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican, said he would oppose the resolution. He acknowledged that Massie had been talking with colleagues to build support. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey Republican, also suggested one or two more Republicans might back the measure.
Reps. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania supported an earlier Iran War Powers resolution. Barrett said he would vote the same way again if the new proposal closely matched the previous one, though he was doubtful that many Republicans would change their positions.
Massie, too, was unsure whether he could win additional Republican votes. He criticized Congress for failing to check the administration’s military actions, saying lawmakers were effectively stuck in a harmful agreement with the White House.
Democrats said they hoped Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections might make some lawmakers more willing to break with Trump’s foreign policy. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts said Republicans should listen to the people who elected them. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut also thought more Republicans could support the resolution.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona argued that some Republicans might feel less pressure to stay aligned with Trump after the midterms. With the prospect of him spending heavily in their districts diminished, she said, lawmakers may be more inclined to heed constituents’ concerns about the war.
The debate reflects a broader dispute over Congress’s constitutional role in military action and the president’s authority to sustain hostilities without lawmakers’ approval. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war and designates the president commander in chief. The 1973 War Powers Resolution sets procedures and limits for military operations undertaken without congressional authorization.
