Senate

Senate shoots down Iran war powers measure; Fetterman, Paul cross aisle

by Ellen Mitchell - 03/24/26 7:46 PM ET

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The upper chamber rejected an Iran war powers resolution in a 53-47 vote on Tuesday night, almost completely along party lines. The measure, pushed by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), is designed to block President Trump from using military force in the joint U.S.-Israeli war in Iran without approval from Congress.

Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) was the lone Republican to vote in support of the measure, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a staunch supporter of Israel, broke from his party to vote against the resolution.

The outcome marks a repeat of a vote held less than a week ago, when senators voted 53-47 on a similar measure, part of an ongoing Democratic bid to limit or curtail Trump’s attacks on countries including Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.

Murphy has framed the efforts as a chance to highlight an issue he argues Republicans are avoiding, even as the war has sent energy prices soaring and the White House plans to ask Congress for a $200 billion supplemental package to pay for the conflict.

“It’s our only opportunity to debate the war, which is tragic,” Murphy told reporters earlier Tuesday. “And we need to continue to put Republicans on record. This war is not getting more popular as time goes on.”

Democrats have repeatedly used war powers resolutions to try to stop Trump from attacking other countries, but Republicans have mostly backed the president, with no such legislation passing.

Democrats have now filed at least three different resolutions directing the administration to remove American forces from military hostilities against Iran, forcing the GOP to repeatedly debate and vote on the conflict on the Senate floor unless they agree to hold public hearings on the conflict.

One such effort led by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was blocked by Republicans last week. Another pushed by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) failed earlier this month.

Trump has signaled a desire to end the war in Iran this week, facing enormous pressure over rising energy prices and alarms of a global economic downturn. At the same time, thousands of additional troops are heading to the Middle East as Trump reportedly weighs a ground operation to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil export hub.

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