House Republicans on Thursday narrowly blocked a challenge to President 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.
The House voted 214 to 213 against bringing the war powers resolution to the floor, handing Republican leaders a procedural victory and preserving the broad discretion they have ceded to Mr. Trump to direct the U.S. military campaign in the Middle East. The slim margin signaled continuing unease in Congress as the war nears its eighth week 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,” Representative Gregory W. Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who led the resolution, said ahead of 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 cease-fire that we’re in — that’s crazy,” Representative Brian Mast of Florida, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said ahead of 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: Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only member of his party to vote in favor of the resolution, while Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio, who previously backed a similar measure, switched his vote to “present,” declining to register a position. Representative Nancy Mace, Republican of South Carolina, who said she has “grave concerns” about the handling of the war, did not vote.
Mr. Davidson’s switch and Ms. Mace’s absence allowed Republicans to narrowly defeat the measure after three Democrats who had opposed an earlier version switched to supporting it: Representatives Greg Landsman of Ohio, Henry Cuellar of Texas, and Juan C. Vargas of California. Representative Jared Golden of Maine was the lone Democrat to opposed vote against it.
The debate has intensified as a critical deadline nears for Mr. Trump to withdraw American 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. Mr. Trump began the Iran operation on Feb. 28 without congressional authorization, and sent a formal notification letter to Congress on March 2, putting the statutory deadline at May 1.
Many Republicans have cited the law in arguing that Mr. 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.
Some Senate Republicans have suggested they would expect to see an exit plan before signing off on such an extension.
“It’s very, very clear to me that the president has some authority during this period of time,” said Senator John Curtis, Republican of 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 cease-fire 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 Mr. 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.
Mr. Hegseth warned on Thursday that the blockade of Iranian ports would continue “as long as it takes” and threatened strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure if the country’s leaders did not agree to a deal. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. naval forces in the Pacific could also be used to intercept ships resupplying Iran, a move that would broaden the blockade beyond the Middle East.
Robert Jimison covers Congress for The Times, with a focus on defense issues and foreign policy.
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