The Senate on Wednesday rejected a second effort to limit President Donald Trump’s military operations in Iran, voting 48-53 against a war powers resolution introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The vote largely followed party lines, though Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) joined Democrats in supporting the measure, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voted against it.
The resolution cited what it described as the administration’s “massive and ongoing” military activity in Iran and argued that Congress had been sidelined as the conflict escalated. Similar to an earlier measure introduced by Tim Kaine, which also failed, the proposal would have required the president to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities not explicitly authorized by Congress.
Additional Democratic senators are expected to introduce similar war powers measures in the coming days as part of a broader effort to compel lawmakers to take positions on the issue, The Wall Street Journal reported. The vote was 53-47 against.
Presidents from both parties have always considered the War Powers Act, passed in 1973 as the Vietnam War was winding down, as an unconstitutional limit on the commander-in-chief’s Article II powers. However, it has never been brought before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fetterman defied his party and opposed a previous attempt two weeks ago by the Senate to pass a war powers resolution. Paul, meanwhile, also sided with Democrats at the time.
Supporters of the measure, along with a related one in the House, which also eventually failed, recognized that they faced significant challenges due to the near-unanimous backing for the war among the Republicans who control Congress.
However, they emphasized that the votes were still important as a way to test lawmakers, especially considering Trump’s opposition to seeking congressional approval for the joint Israeli-American operations against Iran.
Fetterman said earlier this month that Trump’s actions to destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions was “entirely appropriate” and that U.S. and Israeli forces should continue to target whoever is selected to succeed slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Just keep killing them until they’re gone,” Fetterman told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on CNN News Central “I absolutely support that. I think that’s entirely appropriate until hopefully they’ll pick someone that realizes that they need to live and coexist in peace in the region and stop trying to destroy Israel and to stabilize the region,” he added.
Khamenei, who served as the supreme leader for over three decades, was killed in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes that targeted his compound and Iran’s nuclear program.
Some international media reports indicate that Iran’s Assembly of Experts chose Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor on Tuesday; however, it’s possible he has been neutralized as well, according to some reports.
An Israeli airstrike reportedly struck the building during a meeting of officials who were voting. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday that any leader appointed by the regime would be “an unequivocal target for elimination.”
“It does not matter what his name is or the place where he hides,” Katz wrote in a post on the social platform X, describing the plot as an “integral part of the objectives” of the ongoing military operation.
“We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to crush the regime’s capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow it and replace it,” Katz continued.
Israel has clearly stated its goal of pursuing regime change in Iran, while U.S. officials have emphasized that nation-building is not part of their agenda. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have described the mission as focused on eliminating nuclear and missile threats, despite President Trump encouraging the Iranian people to “take over” their government.