A surprise vote in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday moved the country one step closer to a potential congressional rebuke of President Donald Trump's military campaign in Iran, with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana breaking from his party to advance a resolution that would halt the operation.
The War Powers Resolution passed a preliminary Senate vote 50-47, according to CNBC. The vote signals that the Senate may now have enough support to force Trump to pull back military forces from Iran or seek congressional approval for continued action. Despite the result, the measure still faces significant obstacles. It would need to clear a final Senate vote, pass the House, and survive what would almost certainly be a presidential veto.
Cassidy explained his vote in a statement posted to his X account. "While I support the administration's efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury," he said. "In Louisiana, I've heard from people, including President Trump's supporters, who are concerned about this war. Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified."
Cassidy's position may have been shaped in part by his political situation. He failed to advance to a runoff in a primary election last week against Trump-endorsed challenger Rep. Julia Letlow of Louisiana, leaving him in the final months of his Senate term. Several other Republican senators, including Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, were absent from the vote, which may have allowed the measure to move forward.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against the resolution. Forty-six Republicans voted in favor of the measure that would end the military action.
The war with Iran has now passed the 60-day threshold under the War Powers Act, which requires the president to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force. The Trump administration has argued the law is unconstitutional and has also claimed that a ceasefire reached in early April paused the clock by stopping active hostilities.
The conflict has had wide economic consequences. Iran has largely kept the Strait of Hormuz closed for the duration of the war, a waterway that carries about a fifth of the world's oil supply. Average gas prices in the United States have risen to more than $4.53 per gallon, according to AAA, and the approach of the summer driving season has added pressure on consumers and lawmakers alike.
Democrats in both chambers have introduced more than a dozen war powers resolutions since the conflict began, and all have been defeated until now. The preliminary advance of Tuesday's measure represents the furthest any such resolution has progressed. The war has nearly reached the three-month mark with no announced timeline for its conclusion.
