The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly voted to block an effort to rein in Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran.
In a razor-thin vote of 214 to 213 on Thursday (16 April), lawmakers rejected a Democratic-led war powers resolution that would have required the president to halt military action unless Congress formally authorised it.
The outcome came just a day after a similar proposal failed in the Senate, dealing another blow to Democrats seeking a greater say over U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
The measure, brought under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, aimed to reassert Congress’s constitutional role in declaring war. Democrats argue that the U.S. Constitution is clear: only Congress has the authority to take the country into war.
Yet, as has often been the case across modern presidencies, the White House and most Republicans insist that the commander-in-chief retains the power to order limited military action, particularly when national security is at stake.
They maintain that Trump’s actions - part of a campaign launched alongside Israel on 28 February - are lawful and necessary to protect U.S. interests.
The vote largely followed party lines. Almost every Republican opposed the resolution, with just one breaking ranks and another abstaining. One Democrat voted against it.
Despite some unease within Republican ranks over the cost and trajectory of the conflict, party support for the president has held firm more than six weeks into the fighting.
Still, anxiety is growing on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers from both sides are increasingly wary of the war’s mounting financial burden, its uncertain objectives and the possibility of a wider regional escalation.
Speaking ahead of the vote, senior Democrat Gregory Meeks struck a stark tone: “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.”
Questions over the cost of the war have only added to concerns. At recent hearings, White House budget director Russ Vought declined to provide a clear estimate, and did not confirm suggestions from Senator Jeff Merkley that the price tag may already have reached $50 billion.
Although the resolution failed, Democrats say the effort is far from futile. Forcing votes, they argue, puts lawmakers on record and keeps pressure on the administration.
With Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate pledging to bring the issue back again, the battle over who controls America’s war powers looks set to continue – even as the conflict itself shows no clear sign of ending.
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Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the countries in April. The attacks came as Iran accused the U.S. of violating a separate ceasefire with strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Canada and the Bahamas announced on Tuesday that they will temporarily restrict entry for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan following an Ebola outbreak in the region.
Latvia is strengthening its anti-drone capabilities along its borders with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after several drones entered the NATO member’s airspace, according to a senior military official.
NASA has revealed the next phase of its plan to build a permanent base on the Moon, outlining the vehicles, robotic landers and hopping drones it intends to send as part of the project.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 26 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
Iran has called Monday's U.S. strikes on it 'a gross violation' of their ceasefire. The U.S. military said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the U.S. says a peace deal may require several more days.
Shortly after nine o’clock on Tuesday morning (26 May), a sleek white train eased into Tbilisi’s central railway station, a couple of minutes behind schedule, carrying passengers from Baku for the first time since 2020.
Latvia is strengthening its anti-drone capabilities along its borders with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after several drones entered the NATO member’s airspace, according to a senior military official.
NASA has revealed the next phase of its plan to build a permanent base on the Moon, outlining the vehicles, robotic landers and hopping drones it intends to send as part of the project.
Britain and Poland are set to sign a new defence and security treaty on Wednesday (27 May), deepening cooperation between the two NATO allies as European governments respond to what they describe as a growing range of hostile threats across the continent.
Chinese investigators have uncovered hidden tunnels, missing worker trackers and fake underground walls during an initial investigation into the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than 15 years.
Europe continues to swelter in a record-breaking heatwave, with France recording its hottest day in May and Britain breaking a temperature record for the second time in 24 hours.
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