For the third time since June, the U.S. House of Representatives voted late Tuesday to end military hostilities with Iran by approving a war powers resolution intended to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military action without congressional authorization. The measure passed by a vote of 220-204, with all Democrats and seven Republicans supporting the resolution—an increase from previous votes this summer. However, the resolution is not expected to become law, as President Trump is likely to veto it.
The vote comes nearly seven months after the conflict escalated following U.S. strikes against Iran and related missile attacks in the region. Lawmakers advancing the resolution expressed frustration over the ongoing conflict, with Rep. Seth Moulton, a Marine veteran of the Iraq War, urging Congress to fulfill its constitutional responsibility by questioning the continued U.S. involvement. “Remember when Donald Trump said that this war would last just a few weeks?” Moulton said prior to the vote.
Republican opponents of the measure, including Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, defended Trump’s actions as an effort to end "forever wars" and stressed that Iran remains a persistent threat to U.S. security interests. Mast challenged Democrats to specify which military assets they would want removed from the region, given the ongoing threat.
The resolution is expected to be the House’s final vote on the Iran conflict before the midterm elections, where the war and associated economic pressures are key issues. Lawmakers are preparing to campaign with less than 50 days remaining before voters decide which party controls Congress.
The ongoing military engagement has had significant financial and economic ramifications. A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released Tuesday outlined that the conflict has cost the United States at least $38 billion as of August 1, with monthly expenditures ranging from $2 billion to $3 billion depending on the level of hostilities. The CBO also linked the fighting to increased inflation, projecting that the war will contribute 0.5 percentage points to inflation through 2027. This inflationary pressure is partly attributed to disruptions in oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, which have led to spikes in fuel prices affecting consumers nationwide.
The report further highlighted strategic challenges, noting that Iranian missile and drone attacks have depleted U.S. stockpiles of defensive interceptors to levels that could take five years to replenish, even with increased production. This shortfall raises concerns about readiness for potential future conflicts, including with strategic competitors such as China, particularly in scenarios involving Taiwan. The Pentagon disputed some reports of shortages, with White House and defense officials asserting that the U.S. maintains ample munitions.
Efforts to curtail the war through legislation have repeatedly faced resistance in the Senate, where earlier approval of similar war powers resolutions was reversed following intervention by Republican leadership and direct criticism from the president. The constitutional balance of war powers between Congress and the president remains a contentious issue, as the War Powers Act requires congressional authorization for prolonged military engagements beyond a set timeframe, yet grants the president authority as commander-in-chief for immediate actions.
The cost of the war and its broader economic and strategic impacts continue to shape the political landscape as the country approaches a pivotal midterm election.