A bipartisan attempt to place congressional limits on President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran was defeated in the Senate on Thursday by a single vote.
The chamber voted 50–49 against advancing the war powers measure, blocking another effort by lawmakers to challenge the administration’s authority to continue military operations in the Middle East without further approval from Congress.
Three Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky — crossed party lines to support the resolution.
Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman sided with most Republicans in opposing it.
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell did not participate in the vote. He remains away from the Senate while recovering from a fall in June and has not been cleared to resume his duties.
The outcome leaves Trump’s current military operations against Iran untouched for the time being.
