WASHINGTON, September 16, 2026 — The U.S. House of Representatives has voted for the third time to end the ongoing war in Iran, approving a war powers resolution aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from continuing military operations without congressional approval. The measure passed 220-204 in a late Tuesday vote, with all Democrats and seven Republicans supporting it. The latest vote follows two similar efforts in the House earlier this summer, none of which ultimately reached the president’s desk. Trump is expected to oppose the measure. Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a former Marine who served in the Iraq War, argued that Congress has a constitutional responsibility to question and oversee the use of U.S. military force. Republicans supporting the administration have maintained that Iran continues to pose a significant security threat and have defended the president’s military actions. The vote comes as the conflict between the United States and Iran continues into its seventh month, with the fighting also affecting energy markets and shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The Congressional Budget Office said the war had cost the U.S. Department of Defense more than $38 billion through August 1 and could continue to cost up to $3 billion a month or more depending on the intensity of the conflict. The CBO also projected that disruptions to oil and natural-gas shipments could contribute to higher inflation into early 2027. The House vote does not immediately end U.S. military operations in Iran, but it renews a major debate in Washington over the constitutional balance between presidential war powers and Congress’s authority over military action. The measure now faces further hurdles before it could become legally effective.
