Duo Still Pressing for House War Powers Resolution on Iran, but Speaker Says It’s Not ‘Necessary’

Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., are spearheading a war powers resolution that would direct President Donald Trump to cease using the military against Iran without congressional approval.

But it might not get a vote in the House, if House Speaker Mike Johnson has anything to say about it.

The resolution “directs the president to terminate the use of United States armed forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.” 

On Sunday, Khanna and Massie appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation” to discuss their bipartisan resolution. In the interview, Massie criticized the lack of congressional involvement in deciding whether to engage in a conflict with Iran.

“We haven’t been briefed. They should have called us all back. And, frankly, we should have debated this war powers resolution that Ro Khanna and I offered, instead of staying on vacation and doing fundraisers, and saying, ‘Oh, well, the president’s got this under control. We’re going to cede our constitutional authority,‘” the Kentucky Republican said.

The two lawmakers’ resolution was introduced on June 17, several days prior to President Donald Trump’s bombing of three nuclear facilities in Iran, but it could still be relevant if there is an escalation in U.S. involvement in Iran’s war with Israel.

The Massie-Khanna resolution does not prevent the U.S. from defending itself in the face of an imminent attack. That provision is particularly relevant after Iran on Monday targeted Al Udeid Air Base in nearby Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, in response to the U.S. strike on Iran. Those missiles were successfully intercepted by Qatari and American forces, and no one was reported injured by the Iranian attack.

When asked Monday whether he would allow Massie and Khanna’s resolution to come to the House floor for a vote, Johnson said, “I don’t think this is an appropriate time for a war powers resolution, and I don’t think it’s necessary.”

The resolution cites the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which states, “at any time that United States armed forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the president if Congress so directs.” 

It also asserts that Congress has the sole power to declare war as stipulated in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, and that Congress has not officially declared war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

The resolution was yet another expression of Massie’s dissent from the Trump administration and GOP congressional leadership. He also voted against the Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill in the House and criticized the president’s bombing of Iran over the weekend. 

Trump has threatened to recruit and campaign for a Republican primary challenger to Massie in the 2026 election cycle.

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