The Senate rejected an attempt to rein in the war in Iran, handing President Donald Trump what amounts to an endorsement of his five-day military campaign.
The 47-53 vote split largely along party lines, with Republican senators united to defeat a measure that would have required congressional approval to continue the operation.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a cosponsor, was the only Republican who supported the resolution. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania broke with his party in support of the strikes, which gave GOP leaders additional room to defeat it.
House lawmakers will weigh in on Thursday, although their similar war powers resolution is also expected to fail. Republicans’ decision to coalesce against the measure — despite questions about the administration’s shifting message and concerns from his base that it will distract from domestic issues — underscores Trump’s continued hold on the party.
The result is the same as last June, when the Senate, in an identical vote, rejected an effort to box in Trump after U.S. airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Democrats, ahead of the vote, said they’ve seen in little classified briefings this week to suggest the country won’t be drawn into another drawn-out Middle East war akin to the 2003 U.S-led invasion of Iraq.
“It is amazing to me that my Republican colleagues refuse to learn lessons,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). “Six Americans have already died for an illegal war that nobody wants. The region is in chaos. American consumers are paying the price. And for what? We still don’t even know the reason for this war.”
Top Republicans have downplayed concerns the massive operation will drag on, even as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the conflict with Tehran has “only just begun.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a particularly vocal supporter of the campaign, cast the operation as worth the cost.
“Every day Iran grows weaker, and we grow stronger,” he said. “Their ability to generate missile attacks is going down, not up. There will be pain before this is over. The likelihood of casualties is real. But the reason our men and women are over there is to protect us over here.”
But Trump may not be able to count on robust GOP support if the U.S.-Israel war drags out. Some Republicans, despite their opposition to the resolution, have voiced concerns about how long the conflict could last and the lack of public debate.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who has broken with Trump over his conduct of foreign policy, said he opposed the measure over concerns that limiting U.S. military options could heighten risks to Americans at a tense moment in the Middle East. But he said the American public deserves to know the plan and that Congress should conduct oversight.
“The American people have questions pertaining to the nature of threats and the risks to our troops and homeland,” Young said in a statement. “Congress must take a more active role in ensuring answers to those questions are clear and timely.”
Top officials from the Trump administration have spent the past few days trying to sell lawmakers on the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other national security leaders briefed lawmakers Tuesday behind closed doors. The operations, they contend, are narrowly targeted at Iran’s missiles and other military capabilities, rather than open-ended regime change.
But the administration has struggled to offer a coherent message around the war, and comes as MAGA Republicans urge Trump to focus on the economy.
Officials also haven’t outlined the duration and what an end to the conflict might look like. While administration officials contend it’s not an “endless war,” Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine said Wednesday that the campaign will soon intensify.
Lawmakers have also aired concerns about how rapidly the bombing campaign is depleting U.S. stockpiles of missiles and air defense interceptors.
Trump’s military campaign also is unpopular with voters, which Democrats hope will influence the midterms. Nearly 60 percent of Americans disapprove of the decision to take military action, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS, and most say a long-term military conflict is likely.
Public sentiment could force some Republicans to reconsider their support, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), the main sponsor of the legislation. Kaine, ahead of the vote, said he plans to force more tough votes if Wednesday’s measure failed.
“As it keeps going on, as casualties mount, as the economy suffers, as more nations are brought in, we can keep doing it,” Kaine said. “As people see the consequences, I think they may decide, ‘Why are we doing this?’”
The war powers effort isn’t the only flashpoint for Capitol Hill. The Trump administration is expected to submit a request for additional funding to cover the costs of heavy military operations in the Middle East that could total tens of billions of dollars.
Joe Gould and Leo Shane III contributed to this report.
