Schiff to Reintroduce War Powers Resolution as Iran-U.S. Tensions Escalate

The U.S.–Iran conflict, which began with Operation Epic Fury in February 2026, has intensified after Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and reciprocal U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. On June 23, the Senate voted 50-48 for a non-binding House-passed concurrent resolution urging President Trump to withdraw troops, a measure supported by four Republicans. The following day, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) brought another war-powers resolution to the floor; Republicans defeated it. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) changed his vote from “yes” to “no” after a briefing from Vice President Vance, and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted “present.” On Saturday, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil-shipping lane, prompting a rise in oil prices and market volatility.

The HillSchiff to push vote on ending US-Iran conflict amid rising tensions

Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that he will introduce a new war-powers resolution as soon as the Senate reconvenes, aiming to force a vote on a motion to discharge the measure from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Schiff argues the conflict is “unconstitutional and unlawful” because the president never sought congressional authorization under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. He contends the war is a “war of choice” rather than a response to an imminent threat. President Trump previously berated Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rand Paul for supporting the June 23 resolution, and he engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Bill Cassidy over the same vote.

The HillSchiff to push vote on ending US-Iran conflict amid rising tensions

Republican leaders have consistently opposed the new resolution, citing concerns about national security and the need to maintain pressure on Iran. The defeat of the June 24 resolution and the shift in Senator Cassidy’s vote illustrate the party’s reluctance to endorse a congressional end to hostilities without a clear diplomatic pathway.

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• “You’re … seeing the problems with embarking on a war of choice, a war that the president got this country involved in, not because we were attacked or because there was an imminent threat of attack, but because he chose to do so,” — Adam Schiff, Senator

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• “I’ll be introducing another war powers resolution as soon as we go back this week to try to bring that conflict to an end,” — Adam Schiff, Senator

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• “Sadly, Iran has realized that it has a kind of a nuclear weapon already. And that is the ability with minimal force to close the Strait of Hormuz and to choke off a big part of the world’s oil supply,” — Adam Schiff, Senator

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• “And that has meant that Americans that are already struggling, that you know, with an economy that’s not working for people, are struggling harder now because they can’t afford the price of gas and groceries and all the other impacts of this war of choice,” — Adam Schiff, Senator

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