Senate Democrats are escalating their push to rein in President Donald Trump's military authority in Iran, vowing to force weekly votes on war powers resolutions after Senate Republicans blocked their latest effort. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), was defeated on a largely party-line vote, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as the sole Republican siding with Democrats.
Flood-the-Zone Strategy
The move is part of a broader strategy by Senate Democrats to compel Trump administration officials, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to publicly testify on the ongoing conflict in Iran. Earlier this month, Murphy and a group of Senate Democrats announced plans to introduce five war powers resolutions, aiming to force transparency and accountability on the administration's military actions.
'We're not going to let the Senate be silent until they make at the very least that commitment,' Murphy said. 'I don't think they can defend this war.'
Shifting Priorities
The latest effort comes as Trump's strategy in Iran underwent a dramatic shift, from threatening to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants over the weekend to claiming 'very good and productive conversations' with Tehran on Monday. Meanwhile, Congress awaits a supplemental funding package from the administration, which could reach up to $200 billion, potentially tied to ICE funding and the SAVE America Act.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a leading advocate for war powers resolutions, emphasized Democrats' determination to continue pressing the issue. 'We'll probably have at least one [vote] a week,' Kaine said. 'Have you seen enough? Have you seen enough? Have you seen enough?'