Senate blocks Tim Kaine’s resolution to limit Trump’s Operation Epic Fury in Iran

Senate Republicans closed on Wednesday, handing President Donald Trump a victory over his use of force in Iran, despite lingering questions about America’s involvement in the Middle East.

The Senate rejected the decision of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., aimed to limit Trump’s attacks on Iran on Wednesday, following days of speculation about whether Republicans would cross paths — as they have in the past — to reprimand the president.

The administration pushed hard for support for Operation Epic Fury, holding several meetings with Congress to make its case. It appeared to be working, at least for now, to convince some Republicans on the phone to restore military progress in Iran.

Sen. Only Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted against the resolution, while Sen. Jon Fetterman, D-Pa., was the only Democrat to cross the line in support.

Democrats say Trump’s action is another instance of disrespecting Congress’s authority to use the military, that he has no clear strategy going forward, and, again, that it’s yet another campaign promise he’s broken.

“It’s time for the president to keep his promises, not break them,” Kaine said before voting. “That’s why I’m so glad we’re going to put everyone on the record … No one is going to hide and give the president easy authority or do away with the Constitution.”

Democrats also seized on the administration’s refusal to withdraw US troops from Iran.

“They refuse to remove from the table the inclusion of soldiers,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., warned that the war could extend beyond air and naval operations. “This will make the operations in Libya look like child’s play.”

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Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has introduced a military resolution to counter President Donald Trump’s war on Iran. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Sen. Rep. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who once supported Trump’s decision to impose military sanctions on Venezuela, said he would oppose the latest effort.

But as in the past, he said the groundwork would require congressional approval.

“I’ve always said that doing ground troops would be something that I think would require immediate congressional approval, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen now,” Hawley said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said the goals continue to go to the administration, which he said is a clear sign that “the strategy is lacking.”

Republicans argue that the president is acting within his constitutional authority as chief executive. Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., called the War Powers Act “an unconstitutional shift of authority to the president,” arguing that Congress has the power to limit funding if it disagrees with military action.

“We don’t need 535 commanders in chief,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., opposed the legislation.

There was also weariness among some in the GOP with Kaine’s repeated attempts to assert congressional authority over the conflict.

Republicans met privately on Tuesday to discuss the strikes and the upcoming war vote before their meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Raizin” Caine and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on during a meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 9, 2026. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A source familiar with the closed-door conversation told Fox News Digital that Republicans who may have been victimized are frustrated by Kaine’s repeated use of the Senate to push through resolutions that limit Trump’s war administration.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., noted that it was Kaine’s fifth decision to strengthen Trump’s military power since he returned to office last year, including nearly half of all military power decisions put forward in American history.

“These decisions have been used only 11 times in 50 years,” said Barrasso. “Virginia’s senator alone takes almost half of them. Yet Senator Kaine introduced a war resolution when Barack Obama and Joe Biden were presidents.”

Rubio told reporters after a briefing with all senators on Tuesday that the administration had complied with the War Powers Act, even though he believed the law was unconstitutional and noted that congressional leaders had been notified before the strikes.

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Rubio had previously suggested that the US conduct Operation Epic Fury after it became clear that Israel intended to strike Iran first, a point later he backed off.

If you tell the President of the United States that if we don’t move forward, we will have more people killed and more people injured, the president will move forward,” said Rubio. “That’s what he did. That’s what the president is going to do.”

Meanwhile, the US military has now struck more than 2,000 targets in Iran, mainly focused on taking away the country’s air defense and missile capabilities. Six members of the US were killed in the operation, as were nearly 50 senior Iranian leaders.

The Iranian government says at least 1,045 people have been killed across Iran during the operation.

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