Khanna, Massie plan to force war powers vote on Iran [View all]

Source: The Hill

02/19/26 9:53 AM ET


Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) plan to move next week to force a vote on a resolution to require authorization from Congress before President Trump can use military force against Iran. “Trump officials say there’s a 90% chance of strikes on Iran.

He can’t without Congress,” Khanna said Wednesday in a post on the social platform X. “@RepThomasMassie & I have a War Powers Resolution to debate & vote on war before putting U.S. troops in harm’s way. I will make a motion to discharge to force a vote on it next week.”

In the closely divided House, the vote could be very close. Republicans can afford no more than one GOP defection on any party-line vote, assuming all members are present and voting, and absences can change that margin. The U.S. has built up warships and other military forces near Iran, even as it engages in talks about limiting Iran’s nuclear program. Trump last week said that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”

Khanna pointed to his resolution with Massie, H. Con. Res. 38, that was introduced in June 2025 during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, before the U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear sites. It has 76 other Democratic co-sponsors, and no other Republican co-sponsors. The resolution directs the president to “terminate the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5745037-khanna-massie-war-powers-iran/

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