The House on Tuesday passed a Democratic-backed war powers resolution that would limit President Trump’s military actions in Iran.
The lower chamber voted 220-204 to pass the resolution, sponsored by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.). Seven Republicans voted in favor of the measure: Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Tom Barrett (Mich.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa), Zach Nunn (Iowa) and Nancy Mace (S.C.).
It was the third time the House has passed a similar war powers resolution, but the number of Republicans in support increased from four to seven.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argued in remarks on the House floor Tuesday that “this Congress has not authorized a war with Iran. And yet this administration has kept our troops in harm’s way, without a declaration of war, without an authorization from Congress and without any plan for how to win or end the war.”
“The administration hasn’t just continued to wage this illegal war in direct violation of the Constitution; it’s done so while Americans bear the costs: 19 fallen service members, and more than 750 service members wounded, extended troop deployments, and billions of dollars in additional spending. The president’s mismanagement of this war has hurt America’s ability to prepare for future threats,” Meeks added.
A report from the Pentagon’s watchdog made public on Monday found that U.S. diplomatic facilities in four Gulf countries suffered around $184 million in estimated damages from Iranian military strikes.
The disclosures about the damage to U.S. outposts come as the cost of the conflict has gone up since it began in late February.
The Pentagon told congressional defense committees last month that the cost of the war is at least $42 billion.
A new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that the conflict will likely spike inflation early next year and could cost at least $2 billion a month as long as the war continues.
In addition, 18 U.S. service members have been killed and more than 800 wounded in the more than six-month war. Over 50,000 American troops are still deployed to the region, with the Trump administration yet to provide a clear exit strategy from the deeply unpopular conflict.
Last week, Trump said he believes that the war against Iran would end “immediately” after November’s midterm elections.
Massie on Tuesday introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of launching an illegal war not approved by Congress.
