With U.S. Sen. John Fetterman's deciding vote on a war power resolution, President Donald Trump's power to attack Iran remains unlimited.
On May 13, the U.S. Senate voted on a resolution that, if it had passed, would have limited Trump's ability to attack Iran, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. But the resolution failed 50-49 when Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat who has been a staunch supporter of the war since it began in February, broke with his party and voted against the resolution with Republicans.
Democrats have repeatedly attempted to rein Trump in through war powers resolutions, though their efforts have been rejected by Republicans each time. Fetterman has been the lone Democrat in the Senate to vote with Republicans against these measures, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The resolution, which would have directed Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from conflict with Iran, was the first time the Senate has voted to end the war in Iran since the 60-day window set by the War Powers Act ended, The Hill reported.
That window sets a deadline on how long the president may act unilaterally in the nation's defense without authorization from Congress. The clock began counting down on March 2 after Trump notified Congress of the use of force against Iran. Democrats argued that the deadline ended on May 1, while Republicans say it hasn't been reached because the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in early April, The Hill reported.
