Senate again votes against ending Iran war. But tougher votes are coming

WASHINGTON – For the first time since President Donald Trump threatened kill a "whole civilization" in Iran, Senate Republicans again blocked a measure on April 15 to halt American hostilities in the war.

On a largely party-line vote of 47-52, the resolution to reassert Congress' war powers didn't advance. Most Republicans – except for Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky – voted to oppose the measure. Most Democrats, except for Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, supported it.

GOP Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia did not cast a vote. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat and veteran who lost her legs serving in Iraq.

In an emotional plea on the floor of the legislative chamber, Duckworth said Trump administration officials have failed to adequately explain the president's rationale behind entering into the conflict.

"They need to respect the American people enough to finally tell them why they are being forced to bear the cost of this conflict," she said, "both in dollars in cents, and daughters and sons."

Though the war powers resolution was widely expected to fail, it marked the beginning of a new phase in Democrats' pressure campaign in Congress to pull U.S. forces from the Middle East war. They vowed to continue calling up similar resolutions in the coming weeks.

Those votes will likely become more difficult for Senate Republicans, some of whom have signaled they wouldn't support continued military operations in the region past a certain date without an official declaration of war or authorization for use of military force from Congress. The War Powers Act requires the president to get a greenlight from Congress after 60 days of war, with an added 30-day grace period.

"I will not support ongoing military action beyond a 60-day window without congressional approval," Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said in an April 1 opinion piece. "I take this position for two reasons – one is historical, and one is constitutional."

That deadline falls at the end of April.

Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.