Senate Republicans voted down a resolution Wednesday that would have limited President Donald Trump’s war powers on Iran, giving him the go-ahead to continue a deadly military campaign in the country without congressional approval.
The bipartisan measure, led by Sens. Tim Kaine and Rand Paul, failed 47 to 53. Other than Paul, all Republicans opposed it. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman also voted “no.”
The vote was Congress’ first major test of Trump’s legal power after he launched a military campaign against Iran over the weekend, which the Trump administration says was necessary to stop what it described as an imminent threat. The war powers resolution would have required the president to seek permission from Congress before continuing hostilities against Iran.