Democratic leaders in the House have vowed to force a war powers resolution vote in response to President Donald J. Trump’s saber-rattling over Iran.
Trump has forced Iran back to the negotiating table, amid a massive military build-up in the Middle East, after accusing the Persian Gulf country of restarting its nuclear weapons program during this week’s State of the Union address.
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joined with U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to draft a resolution under the War Powers Act to block Trump from launching an attack on Iran without congressional approval. The vote was postponed until Congress returns next week because several Democrats came out in opposition to the effort, according to Politico.
We will force a vote on @RepThomasMassie and my bipartisan resolution to stop Trump from launching an illegal war in Iran next week. This perhaps will be the most consequential vote in Congress on war or peace since the Iraq war vote in 2002. https://t.co/ZWDsWKRo4o
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 26, 2026
“The Iranian regime is brutal and destabilizing, seen most recently in the killing of thousands of protestors,” House Democrats said in a joint statement. “Undertaking a war of choice in the Middle East, without a full understanding of all the attendant risks to our servicemembers and to escalation, is reckless.”
“We maintain that any such action would be unconstitutional without consultation with and authorization from Congress,” the Democrats said. “Next week, every Member will have the opportunity to go on the record as to whether they support military action against Iran absent Congressional approval.”
Democrats who signed onto the joint statement include House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), according to the New York Post.
“It also includes the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY); House Intelligence, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.); and House Armed Services, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.),” the newspaper reported.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has made public his support for a corresponding Senate measure. The White House successfully defeated a war powers resolution vote over Venezuela when the Senate vote ended in a 50-50 tie last month.
Republican Congressman Warren Davidson, a former Army Ranger representing Ohio, threatened in a post on X to support the resolution without a classified briefing from the administration.
“I have asked for a classified briefing defining the mission in Iran,” Davidson wrote. “In the absence of new information, I will support the War Powers resolution in the House next week. War requires Congressional authorization. There are actions short of war, but no case has been made.”
I have asked for a classified briefing defining the mission in Iran. In the absence of new information, I will support the War Powers resolution in the House next week.
War requires Congressional authorization. There are actions short of war, but no case has been made.
— Warren Davidson 🇺🇸 (@WarrenDavidson) February 26, 2026
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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