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The decision led by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s war powers in Iran are receiving the blessing of the Democratic House of Representatives.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., issued a statement along with other Democratic leaders Thursday announcing that they will push for a vote on Massie’s resolution next week.
“As soon as Congress reconvenes next week, we will force the House of Representatives to vote on the Bipartisan Khanna-Massie War Powers Resolution,” the joint statement read.
“This legislation will require the President to come to Congress to open a case for the use of military force against Iran. The Iranian regime is brutal and destabilizing, which has been seen recently in the killing of thousands of protesters. However, waging a war of choice in the Middle East, without fully understanding all the risks to our personnel and escalation, is reckless.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supported the effort by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna to force a vote to restore President Donald Trump’s war powers. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images; Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images; Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)
Jeffries and other top Democrats argue that any military action against Iran would be illegal without approval from Capitol Hill.
“We maintain that any such action would be unconstitutional without consultation and approval by Congress. Next week, all Members will have the opportunity to go on the record as to whether they support military action against Iran without Congressional approval,” they said.
Massie cited Congress’ constitutional war powers in introducing the law earlier this month along with Khanna.
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“Congress must vote for war according to our Constitution,” he wrote in X.[Khanna] and I will be pushing for that vote to happen in the House as soon as possible. I will vote to put America first, which means voting to fight more wars in the Middle East.”
Buses burned during protests in Iran, Tehran, Iran, Jan. 21, 2026. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
There are many ways to force a vote on the will of the House leadership. But the fastest route is called a “special ruling,” which mandates that a specific piece of legislation be considered by the full court within two legal days of its introduction.
Before the measure itself is voted on, House GOP leaders can request an initial vote to “place” the legislation or refer it to an appropriate committee, both ways to effectively kill that resolution.
It is considered easier for lawmakers in a major party to vote to kill decisions in that procedural vote before they vote on the bill itself.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., left, and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., hold a news conference after reviewing unedited portions of the Jeffrey Epstein files, outside the Justice Department’s office in NoMa on Feb. 9, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
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Privileges, which are rarely used, have gained popularity in recent years as Republicans face slim House majorities.
In this case, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can only pay for one GOP defection if all Democrats vote to continue blocking Trump’s war powers.
Because Massie will already be able to vote with the minority group, all remaining Republicans in the chamber must cast a tie vote to block the decision.
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