On March 4-5, 2026, both chambers of Congress narrowly rejected bipartisan war powers resolutions that would have required Trump to seek Congressional authorization for the ongoing war with Iran — effectively abdicating their constitutional war power as Iran's death toll surpassed 1,200.
The House voted 219-212 on March 5, with just two Republicans joining Democrats in voting for the resolution and four Democrats crossing to vote against it. The Senate rejected a similar measure along mostly party lines the previous day. The resolutions would have directed the removal of US armed forces from hostilities with Iran without Congressional authorization, as required by the 1973 War Powers Act.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “Donald Trump is not a king, and if he believes the war with Iran is in our national interest, then he must come to Congress and make the case.”
The votes came as bombing continued across Iran and the administration still could not provide a consistent justification for the war. The Constitution explicitly grants Congress — not the president — the power to declare war (Article I, Section 8). By rejecting the resolutions, Congress effectively sanctioned a war launched without their approval, setting a precedent that presidents can unilaterally start wars and Congress will not intervene.