WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives has voted for a third time to limit President Donald Trump’s military action against Iran, approving a war powers resolution that directs the administration to remove U.S. forces from hostilities unless Congress authorizes continued military operations.
The resolution, sponsored by Democratic Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, passed 220-204 late Tuesday, with all voting Democrats joined by seven Republicans. It marked the third House vote this year seeking to restrict the president’s authority over the Iran conflict.
The seven Republicans who supported the measure were Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Zachary Nunn of Iowa. Nunn said continued combat operations now require congressional authorization.
However, the resolution faces an uncertain path forward. Similar measures passed by the House in June and July did not become law, and Trump is expected to oppose the latest measure if it reaches him. The Senate has also previously considered war powers legislation concerning the conflict.
Moulton, a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq, argued that Congress should exercise its constitutional authority over decisions involving military action.
Republican Representative Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, defended Trump’s approach, saying Iran remains a continuing threat to the United States. Mast questioned what military resources opponents of the administration’s policy would want withdrawn from the region.
The vote comes as the conflict continues to affect U.S. security and the wider global economy. The war began with major U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, according to ABC News, and subsequent fighting has included repeated missile exchanges and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The financial cost of the conflict has also become a major issue. A Congressional Budget Office report released Tuesday estimated that the war had cost the United States about $38 billion through August 1, with additional spending expected to reach roughly $2 billion to $3 billion per month, depending on the intensity of military operations. The CBO also projected that the conflict could add about 0.5 percentage points to inflation in early 2027.
The economic consequences are being felt beyond government spending, particularly through energy markets. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to higher oil and gasoline prices, adding pressure to American consumers.
The House vote also comes less than two months before the U.S. midterm elections, when voters will decide control of Congress. Lawmakers are expected to return to their districts to campaign, making the Iran conflict and its economic consequences an increasingly prominent issue in the political debate.
Congress has repeatedly sought to assert greater control over U.S. military involvement in Iran. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to declare war, while the president serves as commander in chief. The War Powers Resolution, enacted after the Vietnam War, was designed to establish limits on prolonged military operations without congressional authorization.
