The US Senate rejected, by the narrowest of margins, consideration of a resolution intended to bar Donald Trump from ordering new strikes against Iran without congressional authorization.
In its current composition, the Senate is controlled by Republicans. The resolution, introduced by Democrat Raphael Warnock, failed on a procedural vote by 48 to 47. Four Republicans did join the Democrats in voting to take up the document, but it still was not enough.
In May, the Senate had agreed (also by a slim margin) to begin consideration of a similar war powers resolution introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer explained that he viewed the latest vote as a test of strength. “We are trying to persuade a few more Republicans to support the Kaine resolution so we can move forward. For now, we are one vote short,” he said.
The Kaine resolution, however, must pass both chambers of Congress to reach the president, who can then veto it. To override that veto, the Senate and the House of Representatives would each need a two-thirds majority.
In both of their resolutions, the Democrats invoke the War Powers Act of 1973. It requires the president to withdraw US armed forces from any conflict not authorized by Congress within 60 days. For the war in the Middle East, that deadline fell on May 1, but Trump stated that hostilities had effectively ended after the ceasefire took effect in April.
