05/21/2026
BREAKING: House leadership has pulled the War Powers Resolution vote, likely due to a lack of Republican support and concerns the measure could pass because of GOP defections and absences.
Democrats erupted on the House floor following the announcement. The last House vote ended in a 212–212 tie.
Today marks the second delay of the vote by Republican leadership.
The move comes two days after the Senate advanced its version of the War Powers Resolution in a vote that reflected growing Republican support for the measure. Until recently, Rand Paul (R-KY) had been the lone Republican consistently backing the bill, later joined by Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) during the seventh iteration of the resolution.
But on Tuesday, Bill Cassidy (R-LA) also voted with Democrats after recently losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger. Cassidy was notably one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict President Trump during his second impeachment trial.
Three Republicans: John Cornyn, Thom Tillis, and Tommy Tuberville did not vote, absences that ultimately helped Democrats advance the measure.
The developments signal a change of Republican support for continued U.S. involvement in the conflict, particularly among conservatives who argued their support was limited to the 60-day window outlined in the 1973 War Powers Resolution.
Under the law, Congress can require a president to end U.S. military involvement in conflicts not formally authorized by Congress after 60 days unless lawmakers approve an extension or formally declare war — a deadline that is now more than a month overdue.
More on tonight's news at 6pm!
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