The United States Senate has once again blocked an attempt to limit President Donald Trump’s war powers over the ongoing Iran conflict, even as growing bipartisan support suggests momentum may be shifting.
In a closely divided 50–49 vote on Wednesday, senators rejected a Democratic-led resolution that sought to require congressional authorization before continued military action in Iran. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, was the seventh similar effort to fail this year.
Despite the outcome, support for the proposal appeared to inch forward, with three Republican senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining Democrats in backing the motion. One Democrat, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted against it with Republicans.
The vote marked the first major test in the Senate since a 60-day war powers deadline passed on May 1, a legal threshold that requires a president to either seek congressional approval for military action or justify continued operations under limited conditions.
Trump, however, has argued that a ceasefire declaration effectively ended the conflict, meaning the deadline no longer applies.
Democrats strongly dispute that interpretation. Senator Jeff Merkley said before the vote that hostilities are still ongoing, pointing to continued naval activity and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Both sides are still engaged in hostilities,” Merkley argued, insisting the war powers clock should remain in effect.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, presidents are required to obtain congressional authorization for prolonged military engagements beyond 60 days unless specific exemptions are granted.
Democrats say the administration may be stretching executive authority too far and risking deeper U.S. involvement in a prolonged conflict without a clear strategy.
They have vowed to reintroduce the resolution repeatedly until it passes or the administration seeks formal approval from Congress.
Republicans, along with the White House, maintain that Trump is acting within his constitutional authority as commander-in-chief to protect U.S. interests through limited military action.
They have also accused Democrats of repeatedly introducing the measures for political reasons rather than substantive legal concerns.
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