Senate Rebukes Trump on Iran
Senate Approves War Powers Resolution, Rebuking Trump's Iran Deal Amid Republican Concerns
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The Senate approved a war powers resolution Tuesday to block U.S. military action against Iran, passing 50-48 — the first time the chamber has ever voted to stop the conflict. Associated Press reported the vote marks the 10th Senate attempt to halt the war, which began with the U.S.-Israeli campaign "Operation Epic Fury" on February 28.
The resolution is largely symbolic. As a concurrent resolution, it does not require President Trump's signature and does not carry full legal force. But it delivers a sharp political blow to the White House, exposing a clear crack in Republican unity ahead of November's midterm elections.
Four GOP Senators Break With Trump to Tip the Vote
The resolution passed only because four Republican senators crossed party lines. Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Bill Cassidy all voted yes. Cassidy, who recently lost his primary, was blunt. "The White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark," he said, according to The Guardian. "No congressional authorization can be justified."
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the lone Democrat to vote against it, siding with Republicans. The House passed its version earlier this month, 215-208. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the war "one of the worst foreign policy forays America has ever made," according to Associated Press.
The $300 Billion Iran Rebuilding Fund Fueling Republican Anger
Much of the GOP frustration centers on a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. It includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran. That figure dwarfs the $1.7 billion in frozen assets the Obama administration returned to Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal — nearly 175 times larger, according to PolitiFact.
Vice President JD Vance defended the fund, saying the money would come from "the Arab world" and "private money" once sanctions are lifted. President Trump dismissed criticism on Truth Social, calling reports about the fund "Fake News" and calling Republican dissenters "GRANDSTANDERS." He argued the deal would lead to lower oil prices.
Pentagon Asks Congress for $80 Billion to Backfill War Costs
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is lobbying Capitol Hill for an $80 billion supplemental funding request. The money would restock munitions and military supplies used during the war. The total cost of the conflict has already reached an estimated $132 billion for U.S. taxpayers, according to Moody's Analytics, cited by Council on Foreign Relations.
The funding request faces a skeptical Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he would "see where the votes are" rather than promise passage, according to Associated Press. The war killed 13 U.S. troops and more than 3,375 Iranians. Gas prices peaked at $4.56 per gallon during the height of the conflict.
What the Resolution Actually Does — and Does Not Do
Because it is a concurrent resolution, the measure has no binding legal power. Trump does not need to sign it, and it cannot directly stop military action. But The Washington Post noted it creates a "legal cloud" over any future strikes, potentially opening the administration to lawsuits or funding freezes.
Senator Tim Kaine, a co-sponsor, argued the vote still matters urgently. "Trump could decide to strike Iran again at any time," he said. The World Bank has already cut global growth forecasts to 2.5% because of the war's drag on energy and food prices, according to Council on Foreign Relations.
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