Foreign Policy

The Iran War and Congressional Authorization

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iranian military targets. The strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and targeted Iran’s navy and ballistic missile capabilities. Congress did not authorize the strikes.

Here is what happened next:

The May 19 vote was the eighth attempt. It was the first to succeed. Four Republican senators voted with Democrats:

The May 19 vote discharged S.J.Res. 185 from committee; it did not pass the resolution. Five days earlier, a House resolution failed in a 212-212 tie. The House then adopted H.Con.Res. 86 on June 3, 215-208, and the Senate agreed on June 23, 50-48. It directs the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, but a concurrent resolution is never sent to the president, and its legal force is disputed. The War Powers Act explainer covers why.

The administration argued that the ceasefire paused the 60-day clock, and lawmakers from both parties rejected that reading. As Lawfare described it, the administration’s position is that the president can bomb a country, declare a ceasefire, and reset the clock indefinitely without ever asking Congress for permission.

The fighting did not end with the May vote. A U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding took effect on June 17, and within two weeks U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal sites after attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Near-daily airstrikes resumed on July 6. By late July, the Pentagon was counting casualties from the renewed fighting in a new, separate “Overseas Operations” category instead of the Iran war total (NBC News).

By August 19, the Defense Department’s casualty database counted more than 750 U.S. service members wounded since the war began (CNN). On July 21, Defense Secretary Hegseth told senators the war had cost $37.5 billion and asked for $88 billion more. As of October 2026, no joint resolution on Iran, the kind that goes to the president, had passed both chambers.

What the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution Say

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 tried to enforce this. It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into hostilities and to withdraw them within 60 days unless Congress votes to authorize the action. The president can extend that window by 30 days if needed to withdraw safely.

Presidents since Nixon have disputed parts of the War Powers Resolution. This administration has called the 60-day requirement unconstitutional.

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The January 2026 Venezuela Operation

Before Iran, there was Venezuela. On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces struck targets in Venezuela and seized President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro and his wife were transported to New York aboard the USS Iwo Jima to face drug trafficking charges from a 2020 indictment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a law enforcement action, not a military one.

Trump said the United States would “run” Venezuela until a “proper transition can take place” and that U.S. oil companies would “fix the badly broken infrastructure” and “start making money for the country.”

Five Republican senators initially voted with Democrats on a war powers resolution demanding congressional authorization. Trump called for them to lose their seats. Two of the five, Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana, flipped their votes after receiving assurances from Secretary Rubio. The final resolution failed 51-50, with Vice President Vance casting the deciding vote.

Brazil, Chile, and Mexico condemned the operation. Brazil’s President Lula called it a “dangerous precedent.” Argentina’s President Milei praised it.

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Cuba and the Kaine War Powers Bill

Trump has publicly said he could “free” or “take” Cuba, adding “I think I could do anything I want with it.” A Pentagon official told Congress he was not aware of plans to strike Cuba but called the island a “significant threat.”

Sen. Kaine introduced the Prevent an Unconstitutional War in Cuba Act, which would block military action in Cuba without a congressional vote. Senate Republicans blocked it in April. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida argued Trump had never suggested putting troops on the ground, making the resolution “a complete waste of time.”

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Greenland, Denmark and the 2026 Tariffs

In January 2026, the White House said “all options” were on the table for acquiring Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO ally. When asked about military force, a White House spokesperson said the military is “always an option.”

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded: “Stop the threats.” Thousands of Danes protested in Copenhagen under the banner “Not for sale.”

Trump imposed 10% tariffs on eight EU countries that opposed the acquisition, threatening to raise them to 25% by June. European leaders issued a joint statement condemning the tariffs and standing in “full solidarity” with Denmark.

A bipartisan congressional delegation traveled to Copenhagen in January to reassure Denmark. The delegation included Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both Republicans. Tillis called the push for coercive action to seize allied territory “beyond stupid” and said it undercuts NATO.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Lisa Murkowski introduced bipartisan legislation to block a U.S. takeover of Greenland, barring the administration from annexing or conducting military operations there.

At Davos on January 21, Trump backed off his military threat and said he had a “concept of a deal,” though no deal materialized.

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War Powers Votes in Congress, 2026

Since January 2026, Congress has held at least eight Senate votes and several House votes on war powers resolutions covering Venezuela, Iran and Cuba. One concurrent resolution, H.Con.Res. 86 on Iran, passed both chambers in June; it is not sent to the president. No joint resolution has passed both chambers.

Three senators have voted consistently to enforce war powers across every opportunity: Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski. Bill Cassidy joined them on May 19.

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What You Can Do About War Powers

1. Know who your senator is and how they voted. Look up how your senators and representative voted on these resolutions, then call them and say whether you want Congress to vote before military action.

2. Know the timeline. H.Con.Res. 86 passed both chambers in June but does not go to the president. A joint resolution must pass both chambers to reach the president’s desk. Track the schedule through congress.gov.

3. Show up at town halls. Your representative has to answer for these votes. Bring this page. Ask them specifically whether they support requiring a congressional vote before military action. Get their answer on the record.

4. Share this page. It lists every 2026 war powers vote with its result.