Senators Fetterman, McCormick Block Iran War Powers Resolution

Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators voted to block a war powers resolution intended to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran.

The resolution failed to advance in a 47-52 vote.

The result followed a series of American strikes in a conflict that has already claimed more than 1,000 lives in the Middle East, according to CNN.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, was the lone member of his party to vote against the measure. He joined U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, and most Republicans in the chamber to halt the resolution’s progress. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, crossed party lines to support the Democratic-led effort.

The vote comes after Fetterman defending the U.S. strikes on Iran, which has long been called a destabilizing nation in the Middle East by American presidents.

Fetterman had previously signaled he would be a “hard no” on any attempt to curb executive military power.

“Not sure why it’s controversial to anyone to appreciate and celebrate wiping out 49 leaders of one of the most evil regimes in recorded history,” shared on social media earlier this week.

McCormick, who supported the military action and is a Gulf War veteran, criticized the opposition to Trump’s authority.

“We must seize this moment, stay on offense, and eliminate the regime’s ability to kill Americans and threaten our allies across the region,” he said on Fox News Channel on Monday.

McCormick accused Democrats of engaging in “political theater” and blamed them for blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security over concerns about immigration enforcement tactics and costs.

Democrats have argued that Trump sidelined Congress and provided inconsistent justifications for the conflict. Some Republican, according to the BBC, said they might reconsider if the war expands in the coming weeks.

The failed resolution voted down by the Senate sought to invoke the War Powers Act of 1973.

Under that law, a president must report to Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops. If Congress does not authorize the action or pass related legislation within 60 days of that notice, the president’s authority to use armed forces is terminated.

Trump stated over the weekend that the war could last four to five weeks. However, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who uses the ceremonial title of secretary of war under an executive order, told reporters the engagement could last eight weeks.

“This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight,” Hegseth said. “We are punching [the enemy] while they’re down, which is exactly how it should be.”

He added, “We are just getting started.”

The military campaign is led by the U.S. and Israel and has killed numerous high-ranking Iranian officials. The operations have largely been focused on air and sea power, including the sinking of up to 20 Iranian Navy vessels, according to reports and U.S. Central Command.

The Wall Street Journal reported six American soldiers died following an Iranian attack on a military facility in Kuwait.

Esmaeil Baqaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday called the war an “unprovoked, and utterly unjustified aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

As of Thursday, Western nations are working to evacuate citizens stranded in the Middle East after airlines canceled flights in response to Iranian drone and missile fire.