The Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution that aims to force President Donald Trump to stop all military action in Iran and withdraw from the conflict in the Middle East.
Since the launch of “Operation Epic Fury,” Democrats have forced votes on several war power resolutions that would require President Trump to receive congressional approval or withdraw U.S. military personnel.
In both chambers, Republicans have succeeded in stopping the measures, with the Senate voting 47-53 in early Mar. 2026, and House Republican lawmakers refusing to recognize Democrats’ efforts to propose a measure during Congress’s spring recess in Apr. 2026.
According to The Associated Press (AP) and CNBC, this time, the resolution’s passage triumphed as a result of Sen. Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) loss in his primary election by a Trump-endorsed opponent.
Cassidy’s loss granted Senate Democrats a leg up, as the Louisiana Senator is now willing to challenge President Trump during the final months of his term.
The results in the preliminary hearing were 50-47, with three Republicans absent during the vote.
Despite the resolution’s success, it still has a small chance of becoming law. The measure would still require a final vote in the Senate, advance in the House, and if both chambers approve, can still be vetoed by President Trump.
“While I support the administration’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury,” Sen. Cassidy said in a statement on X after the vote. “In Louisiana, I’ve heard from people, including President Trump’s supporters, who are concerned about this war. Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified.”
The Senate vote came the same day President Trump told reporters he was “an hour away” from calling a strike on the Islamic Republic on May 19, 2026. The president claimed that U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf requested that he not carry out an attack.
