The House narrowly rejected a fresh effort to restrict President Donald Trump’s war powers on Thursday, despite increased defections from Republicans as the Iran war drags on.
The 212-212 tie vote saw three Republicans side with Democrats to support war powers legislation, another sign of unrest in the GOP as the unpopular war stretches on and skyrocketing gas prices weigh on Trump’s party less than six months out from the midterm elections.
The vote was the latest test of loyalty to Trump, which saw the vast majority of Republicans stick with the command-in-chief. It was also the first time the House has weighed in on Iran since the conflict exceeded a 60-day legal deadline to wind down military operations.
Republicans Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky supported the measure. Massie has supported previous efforts to rein in Trump on Iran, while Barrett and Fitzpatrick changed their votes this time to oppose the war. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) was the lone Democrat to oppose the measure.
The increased defections illustrate deeply toxic politics of the war in key districts that will determine control of the House in November. But it also shows that Trump maintains a firm grip on the party as he seeks to resolve a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for oil and other commercial shipping.
Barrett, an Army veteran, is in an incredibly competitive race in his Lansing-area seat against retired Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam. The Democratic challenger has been hammering Barrett for weeks over his support for the war. Owing to that political jam, Barrett last week introduced legislation to authorize continued military operations with a July 30 deadline.
Fitzpatrick’s Pennsylvania district is another battleground that Democrats have long sought to reclaim, and he is likely to face a competitive reelection bid in the swing state.
The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires military operations that haven’t been authorized by Congress to conclude after 60 days, the Trump administration contends that a ceasefire with Iran negates the deadline. Trump on Monday described the ceasefire as on “life support” as peace talks founder.
Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, testified Thursday that while the U.S. has “significantly degraded” Iran’s military capabilities, it continues to pose a threat in the Strait of Hormuz. Cooper told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Iran’s warnings continue to scare off commercial ships from the strait, which gives it leverage in peace talks with the U.S.
On top of the economic fallout that has soured Trump and Republicans’ political standing, Pentagon officials revealed to lawmakers this week that the war has cost the military $29 billion so far — up from last month, when officials gave Congress a $25 billion price tag.
The Senate on Wednesday rejected similar legislation for a seventh time since the war began, despite increased GOP support there for ending it.
Meredith Lee Hill and Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.
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