Congressional Pushback: Senate Votes to Pause US Military Campaign in Iran

The United States Senate has passed a bill to pause President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran and seek congressional approval before any further action is taken. Last night, the chamber voted 50 to 48 to pass the resolution, which had been approved in the House of Representatives earlier in the month.

Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, but four Republicans crossed party lines to approve the resolution, along with nearly all the chamber’s Democrats, with the exception of one member. Last night’s vote marked the first time a war powers resolution had successfully passed both chambers of Congress.

The resolution, however, does allow for limited military presence to remain in West Asia in order to prevent any imminent attack against the US or its allies. In the US, the Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, but that division of power has eroded over the last 75 years, as successive presidents have committed US forces to overseas conflicts.