EVERY VOTE ON LIMITING TRUMP'S WAR POWERS IN IRAN — THE CONFIRMED PUBLIC RECORD
The war cost 13 American lives, 500 wounded, 42 aircraft, and $29 billion. Congress voted repeatedly on whether to require Trump to get congressional approval to continue it. Here is exactly who voted yes and who voted no — every time.
WHAT THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION OF 1973 ACTUALLY SAYS
In 1973 Congress passed the War Powers Resolution over President Nixon's veto. It was designed to prevent presidents from taking the country to war without congressional approval.
It does three things in plain language. It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of sending U.S. forces into hostilities. It limits the president to 60 days of military action without congressional authorization. After 60 days the president must either get congressional approval or withdraw U.S. forces.
President Trump launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, 2026 without a declaration of war or formal congressional authorization. The 60-day deadline passed May 1, 2026. The war continued. Congress brought votes repeatedly to require Trump to end it or get approval. Every attempt either failed or was vetoed or would have been vetoed.
Here is the confirmed record of every vote.
THE VOTES — IN ORDER
SENATE VOTE 1 — June 27, 2025
Before the full 2026 war began — after the initial U.S. and Israeli June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Result: FAILED 47 to 53.
Every Republican except Rand Paul voted NO.
Every Democrat except John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted YES.
Republicans who voted YES: Rand Paul (KY) — the only one.
Democrats who voted NO: John Fetterman (PA) — the only one.
HOUSE VOTE 1 — March 5, 2026
One week after the full Iran war began February 28.
Result: FAILED 212 to 219.
Every Republican except Thomas Massie voted NO.
Every Democrat voted YES.
Republicans who voted YES: Thomas Massie (KY) — the only one.
Democrats who voted NO: None.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call Vote 85 confirmed March 5, 2026.
SENATE VOTE 2 — March 2026
Result: FAILED 47 to 53.
Every Republican except Rand Paul voted NO.
Every Democrat except John Fetterman voted YES.
Republicans who voted YES: Rand Paul (KY) — the only one.
Democrats who voted NO: John Fetterman (PA) — the only one.
SENATE VOTE 3 — March 24, 2026
Result: FAILED 47 to 53.
Every Republican except Rand Paul voted NO.
Every Democrat except John Fetterman voted YES.
Republicans who voted YES: Rand Paul (KY) — the only one.
Democrats who voted NO: John Fetterman (PA) — the only one.
HOUSE VOTE 2 — approximately late March/early April 2026
Result: FAILED — margin narrowing each vote.
Vote totals approaching 212-212 tie on subsequent attempts per CBS News reporting.
Republican crossovers growing incrementally each vote.
SENATE VOTE 4 — May 13, 2026
Result: FAILED 47 to 52.
Every Republican except Rand Paul voted NO.
Every Democrat except John Fetterman voted YES.
Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) did not vote.
Republicans who voted YES: Rand Paul (KY) — the only one.
Democrats who voted NO: John Fetterman (PA) — the only one.
Source: Time Magazine confirmed May 13, 2026.
HOUSE VOTE — MAY 21, 2026 — VOTE CANCELED BY REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
A House vote was scheduled and then canceled at the last minute by Speaker Mike Johnson when it became clear Republicans did not have the votes to defeat it. Johnson sent Congress home for Memorial Day recess rather than allow the vote.
NPR confirmed: Republican leaders "sent House members home early for a May recess when it appeared the largely Democratic-backed measure had enough Republican votes for passage."
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY): "We had the votes without question and they knew it."
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Republicans "cowardly."
This is confirmed. A scheduled vote on whether to limit the president's war powers was canceled by the majority party to avoid losing it.
SENATE VOTE 5 — PROCEDURAL — May 19, 2026
First time the Senate ever advanced a war powers resolution on Iran — but only a procedural vote, not a final vote.
Result: ADVANCED 50 to 47 — procedural discharge vote only.
Three Republicans were absent — Cornyn (TX), Tillis (NC), Tuberville (AL) — tipping the balance.
Every Republican except four voted NO.
Every Democrat except John Fetterman voted YES.
Republicans who voted YES: Rand Paul (KY), Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Bill Cassidy (LA).
Note on Cassidy: This was the first time Cassidy voted yes. It came days after Trump helped defeat him in Louisiana's Republican Senate primary.
Democrats who voted NO: John Fetterman (PA) — the only one.
Source: CBS News May 19, 2026 confirmed.
HOUSE VOTE 3 — FINAL — June 3, 2026
Fourth House attempt. First time the House passed a war powers resolution on Iran.
Result: PASSED 215 to 208.
Every Republican except four voted NO.
Every Democrat voted YES.
Republicans who voted YES:
Thomas Massie — Republican — Kentucky
Brian Fitzpatrick — Republican — Pennsylvania
Tom Barrett — Republican — Michigan
Warren Davidson — Republican — Ohio
Democrats who voted NO: None. Rep. Jared Golden (ME) who had voted no on previous attempts voted YES this time.
Source: CBS News, NBC News, NPR, CNBC, Washington Post confirmed June 3, 2026.
Trump's response: "Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Who would do such an unpatriotic thing."
Trump later called the four Republicans "GRANDSTANDERS."
SENATE VOTE 6 — FINAL — June 17, 2026
The day after the Iran deal was announced.
Result: FAILED 47 to 48.
Every Republican except four voted NO.
Every Democrat except John Fetterman voted YES.
Republicans who voted YES: Rand Paul (KY), Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Bill Cassidy (LA).
Democrats who voted NO: John Fetterman (PA) — the only one.
Source: CBS News June 17, 2026 confirmed. The Hill confirmed June 18, 2026.
THE SUMMARY — PLAIN LANGUAGE
Every House vote: Every Democrat voted YES every time. Every Republican voted NO except Thomas Massie of Kentucky who voted YES on every House attempt, and Fitzpatrick, Barrett, and Davidson who crossed over on the final vote.
Every Senate vote: Every Democrat voted YES every time except John Fetterman of Pennsylvania who voted NO every time. Every Republican voted NO every time except Rand Paul of Kentucky who voted YES every time, and Collins, Murkowski, and Cassidy who crossed over on the final two votes.
Republican leadership canceled a House vote rather than let it pass.
None of the resolutions that passed were signed into law. The war continued for 109 days without formal congressional authorization.
WHAT THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION IS AND IS NOT
The resolutions that passed were largely symbolic. For a war powers resolution to carry the force of law it must pass both chambers and either be signed by the president or passed over his veto with two-thirds majorities in both chambers. Neither threshold was reached. Trump was expected to veto any resolution that reached his desk.
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who led many of the Senate efforts, said: "If you don't have the guts to vote yes or no on a war vote, how dare you send our sons and daughters into war where they risk their lives."
Senator Rand Paul, the only Republican who voted yes in every single vote, said: "The congressional leadership, resigned to their own irrelevance, will gladly hand the president the power to initiate war in exchange for plausible deniability."
The votes are public record. You can find your representative's vote at clerk.house.gov and your senator's vote at senate.gov.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call Vote 85 March 5, 2026 confirmed 212-219 and Massie sole Republican yes · Senate Periodical Press June 27, 2025 confirmed 47-53 first vote · CBS News confirmed all Senate votes, Fetterman voting pattern, and Collins Murkowski Cassidy Paul May 19 and June 17 crossovers · NPR May 22, 2026 confirmed canceled House vote and Meeks we had the votes · NPR June 3, 2026 confirmed final House passage 215-208 · NBC News confirmed all four Republican names on final House vote · Time Magazine confirmed May 13 Senate vote and Paul lone Republican quote · The Hill confirmed Cassidy flip May 19 and June 17 Senate failure · CNBC confirmed June 3 four Republican names · Washington Post confirmed Senate May 19 procedural vote · PBS NewsHour confirmed all vote patterns · Trump social media posts confirmed via CBS News June 4 and PBS June 2026
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