House Blocks Iran Attacks
House Passes Resolution to Block Trump from Ordering Further Attacks on Iran
The House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution 215-208 on June 3, 2026, directing President Donald Trump to end U.S. military strikes on Iran within 30 days. Joe My God reported it is the first time such a measure has cleared a final vote in either chamber since the conflict began. The resolution now faces a near-certain presidential veto.
The vote marks a historic break from Congress on Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched February 28, 2026. Four Republicans crossed party lines to side with Democrats. The war has killed 13 U.S. service members, left over 1,000 Iranian civilians dead, and cost American households an estimated $100 billion, according to WCVB.
Four Failed Votes Finally Give Way to a Majority
Congress has been trying to rein in Trump's war powers since the conflict began. An initial House vote on March 5 failed 212-219. A second attempt on April 16 fell one vote short, at 213-214. A May 14 vote ended in a 212-212 tie. Each failure came as bipartisan support slowly grew, according to KOCO.
The Senate advanced its version of the resolution 50-47 on May 19, with four Republicans breaking ranks. Wednesday's 215-208 House vote finally pushed the measure over the finish line. GOP defectors included Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Tom Barrett of Michigan, according to KMBC.
Democrats Call It an Illegal, $100 Billion War of Choice
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not mince words. "This reckless and costly war of choice needs to end today," he said. "It has cost the American taxpayer over $100 billion." Rep. Gregory Meeks, the resolution's primary sponsor, said the open-ended conflict is "precisely what the War Powers Resolution was designed to restrain," according to Morning Journal.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires troops to be pulled back within 60 days without a formal vote from Congress. Critics say the Trump administration tried to sidestep that clock on May 1, when it declared that "hostilities" had ended — despite ongoing military operations. Legal experts called it a procedural workaround, according to WLKY.
Speaker Johnson Says Resolution 'Kneecaps' U.S. Forces
House Speaker Mike Johnson strongly opposed the measure. He said it "plays right into the hands of the enemy" and "kneecaps" American forces in the field. The White House has also signaled that Trump will veto the resolution if it reaches his desk, according to OC Register.
Overriding a veto requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. Current vote counts fall far short of that bar. The House and Senate must also reconcile their two separate versions of the resolution before it can go to Trump — adding another hurdle before any veto fight, according to Greeley Tribune.
War's Economic Toll Mounts as Strait Stays Closed
The economic damage from the conflict is significant. Gas prices have surged 35%, with some regions topping $6 per gallon. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 4, sending oil past $120 per barrel. The war is costing an estimated $1 billion per day to operate, according to SB Sun.
The OECD warns a prolonged conflict could drag global growth down to 1.8%, threatening a worldwide recession. Public opinion has turned against the war — 56% of Americans now oppose the military action, and 60% disapprove of Trump's handling of foreign policy, according to Press Enterprise.
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