House rejects effort to withdraw US forces from the Iran war as
Republicans stick with Trump
[April 17, 2026]
By KEVIN FREKING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected a resolution Thursday requiring
President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran
unless Congress authorizes military action. It was the latest such vote
that fell short of passage as Republicans largely continue to support
Trump's operation.
Democrats voiced concern that the United States is becoming further
entrenched in another lengthy conflict in the Middle East. They promised
to keep raising the issue through more war powers votes in the coming
weeks.
The 213-214 vote came one day after a similar effort failed in the
Senate. The U.S. and Israel struck Iran on Feb. 28, and a fragile
ceasefire is now in its second week.
Democrats overwhelmingly supported the attempt to rein in Trump's use of
military force.
“We're standing at the edge of a cliff and Congress must act before the
president pushes off,” said New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking
Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. “Every day we delay,
we inch closer to a conflict with no exit ramp.”
Republicans tried to cast the effort as hypocritical.
Florida Rep. Brian Mast, the committee chairman, said Congress never
voted on a war powers resolution when the U.S. attacked Iranian-backed
Houthis in Yemen in 2024 while Democrat Joe Biden was president.
“When Joe Biden was responding to merchant marine vessels being
attacked, it was OK. No war power needed. It went on for about a year,”
Mast said. “President Trump responds — war power, war power, war power.
... That's the hypocrisy.”
Under the War Powers Act of 1973, Congress must declare war or authorize
use of force within 60 days — a deadline in the Iran war that will
arrive at the end of April. The law provides for a potential 30-day
extension, but lawmakers have made clear that they want the Republican
administration to soon lay out a plan for the war's end.
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A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a
U.S.-Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid
Salemi, File)
While the House vote failed, it gave Democrats an opportunity to
highlight some of the most negative effects of the war: the billions
of dollars spent, the death of at least 13 service members, the
soaring gas prices and fissures with long-standing allies who do not
support Trump's actions.
“Gas prices at home are up to $7 in my home state, and families are
hurting," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. “Another 10,000 U.S.
troops are being sent in to join 50,000 already stationed in the
Middle East with absolutely no strategy, no plan and no exit.”
Republicans defended Trump as taking decisive action against an
Iranian government that has long terrorized the Middle East and its
own people.
“President Donald Trump has sent a message that those who threaten
the United States and our partners will be ultimately held
accountable," said Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.
In Thursday's vote, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only
Republican to cross party lines and vote for removing U.S. forces
from the war. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the only Democrat to
vote against the measure.
The first House vote to curb Trump's miliary action with Iran failed
in early March, 212-219.
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