Punchbowl News: Defense: War powers frenzy continues
May 1, 2026
A group of Democratic military veterans on Friday became the latest House lawmakers to offer a resolution seeking to rein in President Donald Trump’s war in Iran.
The war powers resolution, led by Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.), is separate from the efforts spearheaded by Congressional Progressive Caucus members, who have pitched a series of Iran resolutions in recent days.
But the new push, which comes as the Middle East campaign hits the 60-day mark, is the latest sign that the floodgates have opened in the House Democratic Conference when it comes to war powers.
“It is clear that this reckless war of choice must end,” Moulton said in a statement.
The House had been slated to take up an Iranian war powers resolution from Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) this week, but the chamber’s chaotic schedule scuttled those plans.
That means the House won’t hold another vote on an Iran resolution until members return from recess. The two war powers votes the House held since Iran operations began on Feb. 28 both fell short.
“The president is spending tens of billions of taxpayer dollars on Middle East conflicts as Americans back home can’t afford gas and are losing their health care,” Crow said in a statement.
The White House on Thursday said the 60-day timeline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution has been reset due to the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Democrats and some Republicans dispute the law allows for this type of reset. What is clear is that the White House does not plan to ask Congress to authorize the war in Iran any time soon.
Resolutions pile up. Democrats will have a lot of Iran resolutions to choose from later this month when they come back to Washington.
In addition to the Moulton-Crow language, Gottheimer’s resolution could still be called up. Meanwhile, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has one that will ripen in mid-May.
And CPC members have taken turns introducing Iran war powers resolutions, totaling around a half-dozen so far.