US House passes resolution to end conflict in Iran – JURIST

A bipartisan majority in the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday passed a resolution to end US involvement in the war with Iran, emphasizing the growing distrust and disapproval over the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict. Four Republicans flipped to join Democrats, passing the War Powers Resolution (WPR) by a vote of 215-208.

While it carries no legal weight, this marks a significant shift in support for the war in Iran and illustrates a willingness by members of President Donald Trump’s own party to oppose his actions pursuant to the war.

Since its commencement in February, the largely unpopular conflict has created vast economic discomfort, established resentment, and exacerbated a humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, leading many citizens and politicians to advocate for its end.

The WPR was initially scheduled for a vote in May but was delayed due to an early recess called by Republican House leaders, which was believed to be taken because they lacked the votes to opposed the resolution.

Representative Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and sponsor of the resolution, emphasized in a press release that the WPR’s passage is a “significant bipartisan rebuke” of an “illegal and costly war,” stating:

The passage of this WPR today signals a significant turning point: more and more Republicans are listening to their constituents who do not want another open-ended war in the Middle East. Now the Senate must take up this measure and make clear to the President that enough is enough: if he won’t clean up his own mess, Congress will.

The House now turns to the Republican-led Senate to pass the resolution. Concurrent resolutions must be passed by both chambers and do not require the signature of the president. As such, they have no legally binding effect but carry weight in that they represent the sentiments of both houses. A formal vote in the Senate has not yet been scheduled, but after a similar resolution was pushed in the Senate last month, proponents of the WPR are left with hope that their efforts are gaining traction.

The WPR was passed largely pursuant to the 1973 War Powers Act, which indicates that the president has 60 days to end a conflict if congressional approval has not been granted, with a 30 day extension period possible. Trump has not sought approval from Congress within the duration of the conflict, which has now continued for over 90 days.

He explained in May that his reasoning for not seeking approval is that the hostilities ended in an indefinite ceasefire with Tehran in April, effectively stopping the conflict. However, there has still been active fighting occurring in the Middle East despite the US-brokered ceasefire agreements.

In the midst of criticism by both political parties, Trump lashed back at the four Republicans that voted in support of the WPR, conveying his disapproval in a social media post:

Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Who would do such an unpatriotic thing. They know where the negotiations stand. The Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome. They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories. The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story- They’re GRANDSTANDERS! They should be ashamed of themselves.

As indicated in a press release on Wednesday, the Office of the Inspector General has now commenced an overarching investigation into Operation Epic Fury, which they are legally mandated to do for any conflict that exceeds the 60-day limit.