- A group of House members filed a resolution Monday aimed at compelling Speaker Mike Johnson to sue the Trump administration over what they call violations of the War Powers Resolution of 1973, marking the first time Congress has formally sought court intervention since the law took effect.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is a co-sponsor of the measure, making him the lone Republican to sign on to the effort led by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“For the first time since the law was enacted, a concurrent resolution has passed in accordance with 5(c) of the law, but the White House has ignored it,” Massie said in a statement. “The law remains on the books while the White House flouts it. It’s time for the courts to settle this.”
Massie accused President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of “blatant violation of two sections of the War Powers Resolution of 1973.” He also argued the administration has been manipulating the law’s 60-day clock by declaring temporary ceasefires, effectively restarting the statutory timer each time.
“They’ve perpetuated a ruse that the 60-day limit on Presidential military activity does not apply with respect to the Iran war, because each time they effect a temporary ceasefire, the statutory clock restarts,” Massie said. “We believe no court would agree with this absurdity.”
Other Democratic co-sponsors include Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jason Crow (D-CO), and Ro Khanna (D-CA).
The conflict with Iran began in February.
