Senate Democrats threaten war powers showdown over Iran
The lawmakers warn they will use Senate procedure to trigger war powers votes on Iran unless Republican leaders schedule oversight hearings with Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth.
TODAY IN CONGRESS
A group of Senate Democrats is moving forward with a plan to use the chamber’s procedural tools to force a public debate on the Trump administration’s war with Iran unless Republican leaders agree to hold oversight hearings with top national security officials.
Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said they want Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to testify publicly before the relevant committees about the rationale, costs and objectives of the conflict.
“If this administration thinks it can defend this war, then it should send Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio to the Senate next week for a hearing,” Murphy told reporters on Monday evening. “We’re not going to let the Senate go on with business as usual.”
The pressure campaign hinges on a series of war powers resolutions that the senators introduced after the Senate rejected an earlier effort last week to curb the president’s military operations against Iran. Because such measures receive privileged consideration under Senate procedure, they can be forced onto the floor even without leadership support.
Booker said the group is prepared to use those tools—and other Senate tactics—to disrupt normal business if GOP leaders refuse to allow hearings.
“We have collectively agreed that we are not going to let the Senate continue this business as usual,” Booker said, arguing Congress has failed to conduct adequate oversight of a conflict that is costing billions of dollars per day.
Murphy noted that the senators can compel votes under statutes governing war powers, warning that the chamber will face repeated debates on the war if Republicans decline to schedule hearings.
“As senators, we have the right to force a vote and a debate every single day,” Murphy said. “What we’re saying is that we’re not going to let the Senate be sidelined.”
Kaine, who has led several previous war powers fights, characterized the effort as a response to what he called excessive reliance on classified briefings that prevent lawmakers from publicly questioning the administration’s strategy.
“We’re tired of the classified briefings,” Kaine said, arguing the public deserves answers about the deployment of U.S. forces and the administration’s plan for the conflict.
The lawmakers also questioned whether the administration had demonstrated the imminent threat required for the president to launch military action without congressional authorization.
Baldwin said she had seen no evidence that the United States faced an imminent attack that would justify unilateral force, while Schiff argued the administration has yet to make a convincing public case for the war.
The standoff sets up a potential floor clash in the coming days or weeks as the resolutions ripen for action, giving the minority a rare procedural avenue to force votes on the conflict.
HAPPENINGS
All times Eastern.
The House is out.
The Senate is in at 10 a.m. and will vote at noon to confirm Lt. Gov. Joshua Rudd to be General of the Army. After the vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for weekly caucus and conference meetings. Senators will vote at 2:15 to advance the substitute amendment to the Housing for the 21st Century Act.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will receive a closed briefing at 9:30 a.m. on Operation Epic Fury.
The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on sanctuary cities.
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution will hold a hearing at 2:30 p.m. on birthright citizenship.
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing at 3 p.m. on domestic consumption of U.S.-grown agricultural products.
President Trump will participate in executive time at 8 a.m. and back-to-back policy meetings at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the White House.
IN THE KNOW
— Senate Democrats introduced the FCPA Reinforcement Act, a bill led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) aimed at strengthening enforcement of the 1977 anti-bribery law amid concerns the Trump administration has narrowed its application. The measure would extend the statute of limitations for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act bribery offenses from five to ten years, signaling that foreign bribery could still be prosecuted by future administrations even if enforcement has slowed in the near term.
— House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and several Democratic colleagues urged Housing and Urban Development Secretary Turner to withdraw a proposed rule that would end prorated housing assistance for mixed-status immigrant families. In a comment letter, the lawmakers argued the policy would separate families and worsen eviction and homelessness by requiring every household member in federally assisted housing to prove citizenship or eligible immigration status.
— House and Senate Democrats, led by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), filed an amicus brief opposing President Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot “Independence Arch” on federal parkland in Washington, arguing the project violates laws requiring congressional approval for monuments in the nation’s capital. The lawmakers contend the proposal for Memorial Circle in Lady Bird Johnson Park lacks the authorization required under the Commemorative Works Act and ask the court to block what they describe as an unlawful attempt to bypass Congress.
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