Another group of Republicans rebelled from House leadership and the commander-in-chief over the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Seven House Republicans broke with President Donald Trump on Tuesday night, joining left-wing Democrats to approve a resolution directing the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorizes continued military action. The House passed the measure 220-204, with all 213 Democrats who voted supporting it alongside seven Republicans. A total of 203 Republicans opposed the resolution, as did independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, who caucuses with the GOP. Nine lawmakers did not vote.
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., one of the most left-wing members of the Democratic minority, introduced the War Powers Resolution, which was cosponsored by 14 other House Democrats. Supporters argued that Congress has not formally authorized the continuing U.S. military campaign against Iran and should reassert its constitutional authority over decisions involving war.
7 Republicans break ranks to vote against Trump's Iran war! In a 220-204 House vote, GOP defectors joined Democrats to pass a War Powers Resolution halting military action, citing a new CBO report showing $38 billion in costs and severe missile stockpile shortages. pic.twitter.com/FgEdyYW6tw
— MEAWW News (@meawwcom) September 16, 2026
The seven Republicans voting for the measure were Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Tom Barrett of Michigan, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Zach Nunn of Iowa. The resolution directs the president, under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran.
The vote marked the third time the House has approved a measure seeking to end or restrict U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict. Previous congressional efforts have not ultimately resulted in an end to the military operation. The latest vote comes nearly seven months after the conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.
Supporters of the resolution contend that the prolonged campaign requires explicit authorization from Congress. Moulton said lawmakers have a constitutional responsibility to decide whether the United States remains at war and argued that the administration should not be able to continue military operations indefinitely without congressional approval.
The Trump administration has taken a different position on its war powers authority. Administration officials have argued that the president possesses sufficient constitutional authority to conduct the operation and have disputed congressional efforts to impose limits through the War Powers Resolution.
The Republican defections represented a modest increase from an earlier House war powers vote in July, when four GOP lawmakers supported a similar measure. Among Tuesday’s Republican supporters were Miller-Meeks and Nunn, two Iowa lawmakers who had previously opposed efforts to restrict Trump’s authority over the conflict. Both have cited concerns about the war’s human and economic costs.
Despite its passage in the House, the resolution would still have to clear the Senate before reaching Trump’s desk. The president has opposed congressional attempts to curtail his authority over the Iran operation and could veto the measure if it reaches him. Congress would then need two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override the veto.
