Senate Democrats failed Thursday to peel off a single Republican vote in their sixth consecutive attempt to curb President Donald Trump’s war powers in Iran, one day before the 60-day War Powers Act deadline expires.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) led the final push to force a vote on limiting the president’s authority. Senate Republicans rejected it unanimously, as they have every previous attempt.
“The mere introduction of one is not sufficient,” Schiff said of a possible Authorization for the Use of Military Force being floated by some GOP members, as reported by Fox News. “And there’s no way that’s going to pass both houses and get signed by the president today.”
The War Powers Act requires Congress to either authorize or halt military action within 60 days of a president notifying lawmakers of hostilities. That deadline hits Friday, May 1, while Congress heads into a weeklong recess.
Republicans argue Trump retains unilateral authority to extend the conflict for an additional 30 days. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said he is not hearing calls from his caucus to force an authorization vote.
“At this point, I don’t see that,” Thune said. “I think they’re getting readouts from our military leadership on a somewhat regular basis that will be helpful in terms of shaping the views of our members about how comfortable they are with everything that’s happening there.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made his first appearance on Capitol Hill since the war began this week, testifying before the House and Senate Armed Services committees. The hearing produced a headline figure: the Iran conflict has cost taxpayers $25 billion so far.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) blamed Trump and Hegseth directly for the ongoing war. “Our greatest challenge in Iran is Donald Trump and Secretary Hegseth, and Americans know it,” Schumer said.
Trump announced earlier this week that a ceasefire in the region remains in effect. The administration has not signaled any timetable for drawing down U.S. military assets.
Democrats’ failure to break Republican unity marks the latest in a string of setbacks for the minority as it attempts to assert congressional authority over an active conflict. Without Republican support, no war powers resolution can clear the Senate.
