The US House of Representatives has voted for a third time to end the war in Iran, approving a war powers resolution shortly after a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report revealed that the conflict has cost at least $38 billion. The report also indicated that America's stockpile of defensive missiles is so depleted that it could take five years to rebuild.
Vote Details
The final tally for the vote was 220-204, with a few more Republicans joining most Democrats in calling for an end to the war. However, none of the resolutions have reached the president's desk, where Donald Trump is expected to veto them. This vote is likely the last House action on the Iran war before the upcoming midterm elections, where the war and the rising cost of living are anticipated to negatively impact Republicans.
Congressional Context
Lawmakers are preparing to campaign nearly full-time as they head home at the end of the week, with less than 50 days remaining before the elections that will determine control of Congress.
Democrat Seth Moulton remarked before the vote, "Remember when Donald Trump said that this war would last just a few weeks?" He emphasized the need for Congress to ask tough questions as mandated by the Constitution, rather than being subservient to a warmongering administration.
On the other hand, Republican Brian Mast, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, questioned which military resources Democrats would want to withdraw from a region where he claims Iran remains a threat. Mast stated that Trump is against "forever wars, and that is what he is ending."
Previous Resolutions
The House first approved a war powers resolution in June and followed up with another in July, both aimed at halting US military action in Iran. The Senate also approved a war powers resolution to end the conflict on its tenth attempt, but Republican senators quickly reversed their stance after Trump criticized them during a closed-door lunch.
