The U.S. Senate voted 49-50 on September 24, 2026 to reject a war powers resolution that would have directed President Trump to end U.S. military operations against Iran unless Congress explicitly approved their continuation, under the War Powers Act of 1973.
Four Republicans broke with the president to vote for the resolution: Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina). One Democrat, John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), voted against it. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (Maryland) was absent. The measure failed by a single vote.
The bigger picture
This was the 13th Senate vote on Iran war powers since fighting began in February 2026, and Republicans have now blocked 12 of them. A similar, nonbinding concurrent resolution passed both chambers of Congress in June; the White House dismissed it at the time as "poorly timed and meaningless." At least 19 U.S. service members have died since the conflict began, though complete casualty figures remain unclear.
What each side says
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the war "one of the biggest catastrophes in American history." Republican leadership and the White House have maintained that the war powers resolutions are unnecessary and infringe on the president's authority as commander-in-chief.
