Senate for first time approves Iran war powers resolution

Tuesday, June 23, 2026Confirmed

Politics Desk

What we know

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted 50-48 to approve a House-passed concurrent resolution directing President Donald Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress declares war or authorizes force — the first time both chambers have cleared such a measure since the 1973 War Powers Resolution.

Four Republicans — Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Bill Cassidy (La.) — joined nearly all Democrats. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) opposed; Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) did not vote. The House had passed the same text earlier this month 215-208. The concurrent resolution does not go to the president and lacks the force of a statute; Trump called the vote “poorly timed and meaningless,” and a White House official said hostilities ended with the April 7 ceasefire.

What's confirmed

Senate: 50-48 passage of House-passed Iran war powers concurrent resolution; first both-chambers success since 1973 War Powers framework (AP/BBC/NBC/Al Jazeera/The Hill).
GOP yes votes: Paul, Collins, Murkowski, Cassidy; Fetterman no; McConnell and McCormick absent (NBC/The Hill/AP).
House earlier: 215-208 with four Republicans; Tuesday was the Senate’s 10th war-powers try on Iran since the Feb. 28 U.S.–Israel strikes (BBC/AP).
White House: vote has “no significance,” does not reach Trump’s desk; argues no hostilities remain after April ceasefire (AP/BBC/NBC).
Same day: Pentagon seeking roughly $80 billion supplemental largely tied to the Iran conflict (AP/BBC).

What's still developing

Political fallout of Trump’s planned Capitol meeting with GOP senators and any further funding votes.
Whether courts ever test the legal effect of a concurrent war-powers resolution that does not go to the president.

Sources

AP News — Senate for first time approves resolution to halt Iran conflict link
BBC News — Congress passes war powers measure for first time, breaking with Trump over Iran link
NBC News — Senate rebukes Trump by calling for end to Iran war with House-passed resolution link
Al Jazeera — US Senate votes to pass Iran war powers resolution in blow to Trump link
The Hill — Senate approves Iran war powers resolution after four Republicans break ranks link