A Republican lawmaker has introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally launch military operations against Iran, amid growing tensions in the Middle East.
Representative Thomas Massie, known for his libertarian stance, put forward the bill on Tuesday, calling for a clear reassertion of congressional war powers. The legislation would require the president to seek and obtain explicit congressional approval before initiating any offensive military action against Iran. It also directs the termination of any ongoing operations not previously authorized by Congress.
“A president should not unilaterally take the nation into war without the consent of the people’s representatives,” Massie said in a statement. He emphasized that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress—not the executive—the power to declare war.
A parallel bill was introduced in the Senate on Monday, underscoring a bipartisan push to rein in the executive branch amid the risk of open conflict with Tehran. While the measure is unlikely to survive a potential presidential veto, backers believe it sends a strong political message.
“Even if the bill doesn’t become law, it signals that lawmakers are unwilling to surrender this critical authority to the White House,” said a congressional aide familiar with the effort.
The Biden-era War Powers Resolution remains a point of contention, and this latest move reflects renewed scrutiny over presidential military authority in the context of the Iran-Israel crisis.
The White House has yet to issue a response to the proposed legislation. However, administration officials have repeatedly asserted the president’s right to take military action in defense of U.S. personnel and interests under existing authorizations.
