House Thwarts Bid to Halt Iran War, but Some in GOP See Support Fading

House Republicans on Thursday narrowly blocked a challenge to President Donald Trump’s authority to continue combat operations in Iran, fending off a Democratic-led effort to halt the war even as bipartisan frustration grows over a conflict that has dragged on for weeks without congressional consent.

But even as the GOP thwarted the measure, some in the party indicated that support for the conflict, now nearing its eighth week, was not open-ended and could wane as an initial statutory deadline approaches within weeks for Trump to either withdraw U.S. troops or certify to Congress it is not yet safe for U.S. troops to withdraw.

After the vote, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, signaled that patience within his party was running thin and that a resolution to halt the military campaign could very well pass in the coming weeks.

The House could “have a different vote count after 60 days,” Mast said, alluding to a May 1 deadline that falls 60 days after Trump formally notified Congress last month of the military operation in Iran. Asked if the vote would be closer then, Mast predicted that it would. Had just one additional Republican switched positions and voted in favor of the resolution Thursday, it would have advanced.

Instead, the House voted 214-213 against bringing the war powers resolution to the floor, preserving the broad discretion Republicans have afforded to Trump to direct the U.S. military campaign in the Middle East.

But the slim margin signaled continuing unease in Congress as the war proceeds with no clear endgame, and with the approach of the midterm elections in which high gas prices threaten to sour voters on Republicans fighting to keep their majorities.

“Thus far, neither side has indicated what comes next, beyond continued blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,” Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who led the resolution, said before the vote. “We are standing at the edge of a cliff, and Congress must act before this president pushes us off. Every day we delay, we inch closer to a conflict with no exit ramp.”

Democrats pointed to increased energy costs and uncertainty over the fate of diplomatic talks to end the conflict, insisting that Congress must assert its constitutional authority over an unpopular war that is having deep impacts in their communities.

Many Republicans rejected those arguments and said that limiting the president as he commands thousands of deployed service members in the region would be detrimental to the operation.

“My colleagues, in an ill-advised way, want to say, ‘Remove all U.S. forces,’ in the midst of this ceasefire that we’re in; that’s crazy,” Mast said before the vote.

Thursday’s vote marked the second time the House has acted on legislation aimed at constraining the president’s authority to wage war against Iran, and fell a day after the Senate, for the fourth time, failed to advance a similar resolution.

Two Republicans again broke with their party: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only GOP lawmaker to vote in favor of the resolution, while Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, who previously backed a similar measure, switched his vote to “present,” declining to register a position. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who said she has “grave concerns” about the handling of the war, did not vote.

Davidson’s switch and Mace’s absence allowed Republicans to narrowly defeat the measure after three Democrats who had opposed an earlier version switched to supporting it: Reps. Greg Landsman of Ohio, Henry Cuellar of Texas, and Juan C. Vargas of California. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the lone Democrat to vote against it.

The debate has intensified as a critical deadline nears for Trump to withdraw U.S. forces or seek authorization to continue military operations in Iran. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president has 60 days after notifying Congress that he has introduced U.S. forces into hostilities to terminate the operation or win authorization to proceed. Trump began the Iran operation Feb. 28 without congressional authorization and sent a formal notification letter to Congress on March 2, putting the statutory deadline at May 1.

Meeks said after his war powers resolution was blocked that he planned to introduce another similar measure.

Many Republicans have cited the war powers law in arguing that Trump has broad latitude to do what he considers necessary in Iran, at least until that deadline passes. The statute affords the president an extension period of up to 30 days if he certifies that “unavoidable military necessity” requires continued operations to ensure the safe withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Davidson signaled he would support giving the president 30 more days, but if U.S. forces were still engaged in combat operations in June, he said after the vote, “then you’ve got a reasonable constitutional question.”

Many others argue that Trump should have as much time as he sees fit.

“The end is determined by the enemy,” said Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. “Not by us.”

A senior White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity about private discussions, said the administration was in active conversations with lawmakers about the upcoming deadline.

Some Senate Republicans have suggested they would expect to see an exit plan before signing off on any extension.

“It’s very, very clear to me that the president has some authority during this period of time,” said Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, referring to the 60-day window. “It’s very clear to me after that period of time, it falls on Congress.”

Before voting for any extension, he added, “I would want to see some movement, right, to end it.”

The approaching deadline -- coupled with lingering uncertainty over a maritime blockade, a temporary ceasefire set to expire next week and little visible progress toward ending the conflict or securing an Iranian commitment to abandon its nuclear program -- is giving pause to some Republicans who have steadfastly backed the war and Trump’s power to wage it without interference or even oversight by Congress.

That dynamic is fueling intensifying calls by Democrats for more congressional action, including repeated war powers votes and demands for public hearings. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on April 29 regarding the Pentagon’s next budget request, a hearing that falls just before the 60-day deadline and could provide Democrats an opportunity to press for answers on the administration’s legal rationale, military objectives and exit strategy.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 1:53 PM.