Bipartisan rebuke
The House voted 247-178 on Wednesday to pass a resolution that would require congressional approval before the president can order new offensive operations against Iran. Forty-two Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the measure, delivering a rare bipartisan check on the White House.
The vote came after weeks of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Iran struck a Kuwait airport with a drone last week, killing one person and injuring over 60. The US has carried out multiple strikes on Iranian targets since April.
White House response
President Trump called the House vote "unpatriotic" in a post on Truth Social. "These people want to tie our hands while Iran attacks our allies and threatens American lives," he wrote. The White House said the president would veto any bill that restricts his constitutional authority as commander in chief.
Senate Republicans have shown little appetite for taking up the measure. Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate would focus on funding bills instead.
Iran strategy under scrutiny
A growing number of lawmakers from both parties have questioned the administration's approach. Some argue that the US lacks a clear exit strategy, while others warn that the conflict is draining resources from other priorities. The House vote also reflected concerns about the rising cost of military operations in the Middle East, which some analysts estimate has exceeded $15 billion since April.