House Rebukes Trump on Iran War Powers as GOP Defectors Join
In a striking bipartisan rebuke, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to pass a war powers resolution calling on President Donald Trump to halt military operations against Iran absent explicit congressional authorization. The 214-208 vote saw four House Republicans cross party lines to join all 210 Democrats in supporting the measure, marking the second time the chamber has approved such a rebuke since the conflict began five months ago.
The largely symbolic vote came on the 12th consecutive night of U.S. bombings in Iran, as oil prices surged past $100 per barrel following Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Senate separately failed to advance a similar resolution in a 47-49 vote, highlighting deepening divisions in Washington over a war that has killed 18 to 19 U.S. service members and cost billions of taxpayer dollars.
The War Powers Vote
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), uses a privileged resolution mechanism to bypass House GOP leadership. It calls on Trump “to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, including potential ground forces in a combat role or used for occupation.”
According to Fox News, the four Republican defectors were Reps. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Thomas Massie (R-KY). Davidson and Massie are sharp critics of foreign intervention, while Fitzpatrick and Barrett are moderate Republicans facing competitive re-election bids.
“My position hasn’t changed,” Barrett, an Army veteran and freshman lawmaker, told Fox News Digital. “Only Congress has the authority to authorize military action in Iran.”
The resolution is not legally binding and would not go to Trump’s desk for signature even if the Senate passed it. A similar resolution passed the House in June with the same four defectors, after which Trump called them “unpatriotic.”
The $95 Billion Budget Paradox
In a display of Congress’s contradictory position, the same House that rebuked Trump on war powers also approved a $95 billion budget package to fund the conflict. The Associated Press reported the package passed 216-214, with two Republicans and one independent joining Democrats in opposition.
The funding includes $60 billion for the Pentagon, $13 billion for other national security needs, $12 billion for farmers struggling under Trump’s tariffs, and $10 billion for voting law changes under the SAVE America Act. Republicans used budget reconciliation to bypass the Senate filibuster for the third time on this strategy.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) sharply criticized the package, saying Republicans “have literally ripped food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans to sustain the Trump war machine.”
Oil Prices Surge Past $100
Brent crude crossed $100 per barrel on Thursday for the first time since May 2026, triggered by Iran-backed Houthi rebel attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The attacks threaten to open a new front in the Iran war near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, an alternative shipping route to the Strait of Hormuz that Iran blockaded earlier in the conflict.
Military Escalation Continues
The U.S. military completed its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting maritime capabilities and air defense assets, according to CENTCOM. The Pentagon is facing a budget shortfall after spending $37.5 billion on the Iran war and is seeking an immediate $67 billion in emergency funding, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators.
Trump is reportedly weighing further escalation. The Pentagon has deployed additional weaponry, troops, and military aircraft to the Middle East over the past week. Four U.S. service members were killed over the weekend in attacks in Jordan and Iraq.
Public Opinion and Political Fallout
A Fox News poll released Wednesday found that only 34% of voters approve of Trump’s handling of Iran. A Politico poll showed a 13-percentage-point drop in MAGA voters who say the war is worth its economic costs compared to May.
Trump insisted Wednesday that “Americans aren’t against the war,” though Forbes noted it was unclear what poll he was referring to.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) acknowledged the political headwinds, telling reporters, “We got to wrap it up,” even as he advanced the $95 billion funding package.
What’s Next
The Senate’s failure to advance the war powers resolution (47-49) highlights the chamber’s more cautious approach. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who previously supported the measure, voted against it this time. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been noncommittal on the House budget package, with his focus on avoiding a government shutdown before the Sept. 30 funding deadline.
With the November midterm elections looming, the Iran war has become a potential liability for Republicans who hold razor-thin majorities in both chambers. The four GOP defectors represent a growing fracture within the party over a conflict that shows no signs of de-escalation, even as diplomatic efforts have repeatedly failed.
The Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, combined with the Pentagon’s urgent funding request and the 12th straight night of U.S. strikes, suggest the conflict is expanding rather than contracting — raising the stakes for both the administration and lawmakers heading into election season.