Khanna, Massie plan to force war powers vote on Iran

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

02/19/26 9:53 AM ET


Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) plan to move next week to force a vote on a resolution to require authorization from Congress before President Trump can use military force against Iran. “Trump officials say there’s a 90% chance of strikes on Iran.

He can’t without Congress,” Khanna said Wednesday in a post on the social platform X. “@RepThomasMassie & I have a War Powers Resolution to debate & vote on war before putting U.S. troops in harm’s way. I will make a motion to discharge to force a vote on it next week.”

In the closely divided House, the vote could be very close. Republicans can afford no more than one GOP defection on any party-line vote, assuming all members are present and voting, and absences can change that margin. The U.S. has built up warships and other military forces near Iran, even as it engages in talks about limiting Iran’s nuclear program. Trump last week said that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”

Khanna pointed to his resolution with Massie, H. Con. Res. 38, that was introduced in June 2025 during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, before the U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear sites. It has 76 other Democratic co-sponsors, and no other Republican co-sponsors. The resolution directs the president to “terminate the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5745037-khanna-massie-war-powers-iran/

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Link to tweet

Ro Khanna
@RoKhanna
·
Follow
Trump officials say there's a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress.

@RepThomasMassie & I have a War Powers Resolution to debate & vote on war before putting U.S. troops in harm’s way. I will make a motion to discharge to force a vote on it next week.
Anthony Adragna
@AnthonyAdragna
News: @RoKhanna will force a vote on his bipartisan war powers resolution on Iran *next week* with @RepThomasMassie, he tells me.

Comes amid heavy U.S. military buildup in the region.
6:09 PM · Feb 18, 2026

[Walleye]

1. By the time they get through their arcane process Iran will be bombed already

We need our Democrats to recognize the urgency in these situations

[vapor2]

4. Read where he plans an attack this weekend so next week

won't do any good

[Wednesdays]

5. I was about to say...

If there are carriers or subs in the Gulf or Indian Ocean, an attack could occur within minutes.

[LudwigPastorius]

21. The "arcane process" wasn't designed to be swift, but slow and deliberative.

That's why the founders gave ONLY Congress the ability to declare war.

Of course, that horse has been out of the barn since the advent of strategic nuclear weapons. And, presidents have been abusing their power to attack another state without declaring war ever since.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. These 2 Reps deserve a lot of credit

Why other Republicans can't open their eyes and read the Constitution is beyond me. Same reason as the courts I suppose.

[Scrivener7]

3. They really do. I am so grateful for Khanna. And much as I think Massie is a freak, Massie really

is putting his neck on the line by doing these things. I do give him a lot of credit.

[Wednesdays]

6. Massie is pressing the Epstein issue

And he sees the potential Iran attack as the "Wag the Dog" gambit that it is.

[Esox Lucius]

7. Wait...what?

Congress critters doing thier jobs? Who would a thunk it!

[Figarosmom]

8. They'll be too late

Trump will attack this weekend. He always does things Americans won't like on the weekend.

[popsdenver]

10. Classic

for their "Friday night news dump", and utilizing the three day news cycle.......

[orleans]

9. (to quote an old du post & poster:) this needs to be done "right the fuck now"

ala walt starr

"Since yhou can't take me posting on your site, tombstone me right the fuck now."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2507034&mesg_id=2507034
11/6/08

[Kid Berwyn]

11. GOOD!!!

Should be joined by a lot of people, including the Democratic Leadership.

[Renew Deal]

12. Can't they use the original War on Terror approval for this?

It was never repealed

[BumRushDaShow]

16. The AUMFs WERE repealed (finally, after 35 years and 20 years respectively)

The repeals were added as riders on the last "must pass" NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act).

Congress inches toward reclaiming war powers with AUMF repeals

By Rebecca Kheel
Posted December 24, 2025 at 7:00am


It took more than 20 years, but Congress has finally flexed a war powers muscle.

After several fits and starts, lawmakers this month repealed the 2002 Iraq War and 1991 Gulf War authorizations through the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

It’s the first time Congress has clawed back a war authorization since the 1971 repeal of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, and the first significant war powers measure of any kind signed into law since Congress passed the Iraq War authorization in 2002.

(snip)

This is why the efforts to force a vote on a NEW AUMF for this Iran crap.

[mountain grammy]

13. So will they impeach him when he does it anyway?

And my heavens! What will the Bored of Peace say? Misspelling intentional.

I’m glad they’re pushing back and hope it works.

[BaronChocula]

14. This across-the-aisle bromance

between Khanna and Massie brings to mind Rodgers, Hammerstein, and Lecter.

&t=4s

[AllaN01Bear]

15. we have to punish iran, we have to punish iran. in the voice of ron raygun for overtthrowing their fair hair boy the sha

[BumRushDaShow]

17. "in the voice of ron raygun"

This latest thing is a "Lindsey Graham Production".

[AllaN01Bear]

18. this.

[Bayard]

19. trump doesn't care what Congress doesn't approve of,

He's going to do whatever he wants. Right now, that's playing with his toy soldiers.

It would be nice to think he might get impeached over this finally.

[BidenRocks]

20. Not In My Name!

This is what starts another 9-11.
One insane asshole!

[LudwigPastorius]

22. The Iranians will have to get in line behind the Iraqis and Palestinians.

We still haven't experienced real blowback from the war in Iraq yet.

[WestMichRad]

23. Isn't this a complete inversion of the process?

Or… perversion?
Formerly, Confessional approval was required in advance of military action. Now, the CIC can act unilaterally, and Congress can only vote its disapproval (if that?). Which can be vetoed by the prez.
Like a magician’s sleight of hand, they have succeeded in reengineering how this is supposed to work.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. "Now, the CIC can act unilaterally"

It's the "Unitary Executive" concept that is being implemented and aided by John Roberts.