The war with Iran has exceeded the 60-day period established by the War Powers Resolution of 1973, during which the president can use force without Congressional authorization. The 60-day countdown began on March 2, when Trump notified Congress of the start of military operations against Iran. Democrats insist that the deadline expired on May 1. Today, after seven failed attempts, the vote finally passed.

What happened and who changed the outcome

The Senate voted 50 to 47 to advance the war powers resolution, with Republicans Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, and Lisa Murkowski joining nearly all Democrats. Democrat John Fetterman voted against it again.

The key change was Cassidy's decision — he voted "against" on all previous attempts. The senator from Louisiana lost his primary race last week to a candidate backed by Trump. Now, in lame-duck status, he allowed himself to openly conflict with the administration.

"The White House and the Pentagon kept Congress in the dark about Operation Epic Fury. In Louisiana, I'm hearing concerns about this war even from supporters of President Trump."

Bill Cassidy, Republican senator from Louisiana

Operation Epic Fury: what Congress was not told

The strikes under Operation Epic Fury destroyed Iranian uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow and Natanz, as well as metallurgical facilities in Isfahan. Iran has since made no significant attempts to restore these nuclear facilities. However, according to Cassidy, the details of the operation and its subsequent strategy have still not been fully presented to lawmakers.

It was the lack of transparency — not pacifism — that became the official argument of the Republican defectors. Some Republicans argued that the 60-day period had not yet expired because the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in early April. Democrats who supported the resolution rejected this argument.

Why this is symbolism, not victory

Despite advancing the resolution, it has little chance of becoming law: it needs to pass a final Senate vote, gain House support, and Trump will almost certainly veto it.

But the vote demonstrates growing opposition to the war with Iran — especially amid a sharp rise in gas prices heading into summer and the 2026 midterm elections. For Republicans from competitive districts, this is no longer an abstract discussion about constitutional balance — it's a question at the ballot box.

Senate Majority Leader John Barrasso defended Trump's course: "Only President Trump had the courage and strength to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons." But this rhetoric is increasingly difficult to maintain without answers to specific questions about strategy and costs.

If by fall the administration does not provide Congress with a clear plan for Iran — with objectives, timelines, and success criteria — the number of Republicans willing to vote against the White House will almost certainly grow: the upcoming primaries will show whether loyalty to Trump protects against electoral losses as reliably as it did a year ago.