One more Senate Republican on Wednesday joined Democrats’ quest to end the war with Iran in the first such vote since a 60-day legal clock for President Trump to do so on his own expired May 1.
The 50-49 vote was still two supporters shy of the 51 votes needed to advance the war powers resolution, which would direct the president to end hostilities with Iran unless he obtains congressional approval.
Senate Democrats have forced similar votes every week the chamber has been in session since the early days of the war, and the GOP backing has slowly advanced from one senator to three as the Iran conflict continues.
Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has suggested Congress needs to pass an authorization for use of military force in Iran, voted for the war powers resolution for the first time on Wednesday.
“We’re in a different place than we were last time we voted on this,” she said, citing the 60-day deadline the War Powers Act gives the president to end hostilities or obtain congressional authorization for continuing them.
The other Republicans backing the resolution were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote in opposition.
Mr. Paul has sided with Democrats on each vote since the war started. Ms. Collins offered her support on the 59th day of hostilities.
Mr. Trump sent a letter to Congress on May 1, the 60-day deadline, declaring hostilities against Iran “terminated” because there had been “no exchange of fire” since he ordered a ceasefire on April 7.
However, the U.S. and Iran have since launched attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz as they have sought to use the oil shipping passageway as leverage in negotiations to end the conflict.
Mr. Trump on Monday declared the ceasefire on “life support” after Iran’s latest proposal in the negotiations.
“A statement has been made that hostilities are at an end, but it certainly wouldn’t appear to be that way,” Ms. Murkowski said.
She said the administration has not provided enough answers about how it plans to bring the conflict to a close.
Ms. Murkowski tried to get some answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a hearing on Tuesday.
Citing the ongoing deployment of 15,000 troops and 20 warships engaged in an active naval blockade, she asked whether the administration intends to seek an authorization for use of military force from Congress.
“Our view is, should the president make the decision to recommence, that we would have all the authorities necessary to do so,” Mr. Hegseth said.
When Ms. Murkowski pressed whether it would be helpful for Congress to provide an AUMF, the secretary reiterated that Article II of the Constitution, which bestows the president the power of commander-in-chief of U.S. armed forces, provides Mr. Trump all the authority he needs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently told reporters that Mr. Trump was complying with notification requirements of the War Powers Act out of respect for Congress but that he, like past presidents, believes the law is unconstitutional.
Many GOP lawmakers disagree, but even some who believe Congress needs to authorize the war in Iran now that it hit the 60-day deadline say that is not reason enough to support Democrats’ war powers resolutions.
“All this is is a poke at the president,” said Sen. John Curtis, Utah Republican.
Sen. Todd Young, Indiana Republican, agreed Democrats’ war powers votes have become “a political exercise” without a plan for what would happen if the U.S. were to immediately pull troops from the region.
“I continue to think that Congress needs to not only be involved in these decisions to go to war and stay at war, but we need to have serious debates about it,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Republicans are moving the goalposts after previously saying the 60-day deadline would be a turning point.
“We gave Republicans yet another chance to vote with us, honor their words, and hold the president accountable,” the New York Democrat said. “But they continue to bow a knee to Trump.”
House Democrats are set to force a war powers vote in their chamber on Thursday.
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