House Rejects Iran War Powers Resolution 212-212

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday defeated a war powers resolution that would have required President Donald Trump to seek congressional authorization to continue military operations against Iran, with the measure failing on a 212-212 tie vote.

Three Republicans, Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Tom Barrett of Michigan, joined Democrats in support of the resolution. Representative Jared Golden of Maine was the lone Democrat to vote against it. The outcome marked the third such House vote this year and the closest yet, following earlier defeats of 212-219 and 213-214, with one member voting present in the latter.

The resolution came after the 60-day deadline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution expired on May 1. That law requires presidents to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces to hostilities and to terminate such actions within 60 days unless lawmakers authorize their continuation. Trump notified Congress of initial operations but declared on May 1 that a ceasefire had ended hostilities. Military actions persist, however, including a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and strikes last week on...