House Votes on Ending U.S. Involvement in Iran

The House of Representatives is poised to vote on a resolution that directs President Trump to either withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or seek congressional approval to continue the military engagement. This measure was expected to pass in May, but Republican leaders delayed it to avoid a defeat for both their party and the president.

If adopted, the resolution would stand as a significant rebuke to President Trump’s management of the conflict in Iran, highlighting resistance to his unwillingness to allow congressional oversight. Republican leaders postponed the vote earlier, acknowledging they lacked the necessary support to defeat the measure. There remains uncertainty about whether they have swayed any votes since, as the conflict prolongs with little resolution from the president.

The War Powers Resolution compels Congress to address such measures in a set timeframe, preventing further delay. Recently, three Republican representatives joined Democrats to support a similar measure that narrowly failed in a previous tied vote, indicating growing resistance to the ongoing military operations now entering their fourth month.

The vote reflects broader rifts between congressional Republicans and President Trump on several issues, as they face diverging priorities before the midterm elections. Lately, Senate Republicans blocked the president’s request for $1 billion for his ballroom project and challenged a Justice Department initiative to establish a federal fund for claimants against the government.

Even if the House resolution gains Senate approval, the legal authority for Congress to mandate a troop withdrawal remains debatable. The president and his aides dismiss congressional attempts to limit presidential war powers as unconstitutional. Nonetheless, last month saw a Senate move towards a similar measure, with several Republican senators opposing the war, revealing an increased willingness to challenge the president’s foreign policy decisions. Many Americans express that the conflict’s costs outweigh its benefits.

Robert Jimison reports on Congress, focusing on defense and foreign policy for The Times. Megan Mineiro, a Times congressional reporter, is part of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for early-career journalists.