The House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly rejected a war powers resolution that would have prevented further military action against Iran, with the vote falling just short of passage at 213-214.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Greg Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, needed at least two additional votes to pass, as tied votes fail in the chamber. One Republican member voted present.
The vote revealed significant shifts in Democratic support for the measure compared to a previous resolution in March. Three Democrats who had opposed the earlier attempt changed course: Henry Cuellar of Texas, Greg Landsman of Ohio, and Juan Vargas of California all voted in favor this time. However, Jared Golden of Maine was the sole Democrat to vote against the resolution, while Thomas Massie of Kentucky remained the only Republican supporting it. Warren Davidson of Ohio voted present after supporting the measure last month.
The Democrats who switched their positions cited concerns about the Trump administration's handling of the conflict. Landsman stated that while he trusted military planners to achieve their objectives, "it's time to be done" before the United States becomes entangled in a prolonged engagement.
Cuellar announced his support after Trump warned that a "whole civilization will die" if Iran did not meet his demands. The congressman expressed concern about the administration's rhetoric, saying America must maintain "restraint and moral clarity." He added that information provided about U.S. strategy had been insufficient.
Golden, who is retiring after his current term, took the opposite view. He argued that passing such a resolution would "weaken our hand" during intense ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. His statement noted that peace talks were occurring during a two-week ceasefire that was established before the vote.
The ceasefire followed discussions between Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials, though those talks in Pakistan failed to reach agreement on extending the truce beyond its April 22 expiration date. The U.S. said Tehran refused to abandon its nuclear program. However, indirect negotiations continued this week, with Pakistan's army chief traveling to Iran to mediate further discussions.
The narrow rejection of the resolution reflects deep divisions within Congress over military involvement in the region. While Democrats showed increased willingness to challenge continued military action, they remained unable to unite sufficiently to force a change in policy. The vote demonstrates ongoing tension between congressional war powers authority and executive branch control over military operations abroad.