The U.S. Senate has rejected a measure to limit Donald Trump's war powers for the seventh time, but more Republican senators are now supporting the measure.
On 13 May 2026, the U.S. Senate voted down a measure to limit President Donald Trump's war powers for the seventh time this year. The measure would require the government to obtain Congressional approval before undertaking any military action in Iran in the future.
The measure failed by a vote of 49 to 50, with Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, breaking ranks to vote against it alongside Republicans, while Republican senators such as Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski voted in favor alongside the Democrats.
Some Republican senators, including Murkowski, who voted in support of the measure for the first time, and Senator Thom Tillis, expressed that Congress should have a role in granting war powers or at least increase oversight, as the conflict has now extended beyond 60 days.
“I have told the president that I support what he is doing in Iran, but we need to pay attention to reporting to Congress... Right now, this isn’t a war popular among the American people, is it?” Tillis said on Monday.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, had declared in April that Democrats would push for a vote on war powers every week the Senate is in session.
The War Powers Resolution, enacted after the Vietnam War era, sets a limit of 60 days for military action without Congressional approval. This 60-day period expired on 1 May, according to the law.
However, lawmakers remain confused about the exact deadline, with some Republicans arguing that the ceasefire declaration date should not count toward the 60-day total.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters last week that most of his members have not yet pushed for a vote to grant war powers.
Tillis said he and other members are trying to draft a war powers authorization, though he acknowledged that even if it passes Congress, it would likely be vetoed by the president.
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Source:cnn