House Republican leadership abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution to limit President Trump’s war powers in Iran, according to reports. The decision came after Republicans were on the verge of losing the vote due to absences.
A vote on the matter is now reportedly delayed until early June.
The move followed an earlier incident where Republicans lost control of the House floor during an unrelated vote, with several members defecting and others absent. As the chamber descended into chaos, leaders concerned about risking a public defeat on a more politically consequential issue abruptly abandoned the Iran war powers resolution.
The cancellation occurs days after a similar Senate resolution advanced by a 50-47 margin, where three Republican senators—John Cornyn of Texas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Thom Tillis of North Carolina—did not vote. That Senate vote indicated growing pressure within Trump’s party to end a conflict many Americans consider unworthy of the costs.
Last week, a comparable House resolution failed by a single vote, leaving Republican leaders with little room for further defections.
“They probably did it because they didn’t have the votes,” said Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who had previously sided with Democrats on a similar measure. “I don’t think they’re going to have the votes when we get back.”
“The next time they bring it,” he added, “it’s passing.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar condemned the Republicans’ actions in a joint statement: “Republicans cowardly pulled a scheduled vote on a War Powers Resolution—legislation that would have passed with bipartisan support and required the President to end the conflict in the Middle East.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), who sponsored the legislation, declared: “This is not over. When the House returns, Republicans will have no choice but to take this vote. Democrats will not stop fighting until Congress reasserts its constitutional authority and this war is brought to an end.”
Meeks noted that the vote is now expected in early June after the chamber returns from Memorial Day recess.
Earlier in the week, Meeks indicated that House Speaker Mike Johnson may have been stalling a vote on the measure. “A lot of my Republican colleagues are feeling the pressure back home when they’re looking at the cost of food, the cost of gas,” he said.
The Senate advanced a similar resolution earlier this week to limit Trump’s ability to carry out military action against Iran without congressional approval.
The decision by Republicans comes after President Donald Trump told reporters that he believes the U.S. campaign against Iran has been popular among Americans: “Look, everyone tells me it’s unpopular, but I think it’s very popular when you, when they hear that it’s having to do with nuclear weapons, weapons that could take out Los Angeles, could take out major cities very quick.”