The House on Tuesday passed a Democratic-backed war powers resolution to limit President Trump's military actions against Iran, voting 220-204 in the chamber's third rebuke of the president over the war. Seven Republicans broke ranks to support the measure, introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, which directs the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. The vote came as new reports from the Pentagon's inspector general and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office detailed heavy U.S. losses, strained munitions stockpiles, and rising inflation tied to the six-month conflict.

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The House voted 220-204 on Tuesday to pass a war powers resolution aimed at curtailing President Trump's ability to take further military action against Iran. The measure, introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, marks the third time the chamber has moved to limit the president's war powers since the conflict began in February. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in support, a broader defection than in the previous two votes in June and July.

The resolution directs the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. While its practical effect remains uncertain—the Senate has yet to take up a similar measure passed by the House in July—the vote signals growing unease within both parties over a war that has become increasingly unpopular with the American public.

The latest defections came from Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, and Zach Nunn of Iowa, who voted yes for the first time. They joined four Republicans who had supported earlier resolutions: Reps. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Why It Matters

The vote lands amid a cascade of negative assessments about the war's trajectory. A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday found that the six-month conflict has already cost $38 billion and is expected to rise by $3 billion per month. The CBO also projected that the war will increase inflation by 0.5 percentage points in the first three months of 2027, compounding cost-of-living pressures ahead of November's midterm elections.

Separately, the Pentagon's inspector general detailed significant U.S. losses in a report released Monday. According to the findings, helicopters used for evacuating casualties were pulled from four countries, and hundreds of military facilities were destroyed. The report underscores the logistical strain the conflict has placed on U.S. forces across the Middle East.

New photos obtained by CBS News from active service members, shared on condition of anonymity due to military media restrictions, revealed widespread damage at multiple U.S. positions. One image showed a direct hit on a Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia, with its tail severed from the charred fuselage. Other photos from Camp Buehring in Kuwait depicted destroyed trailers, hollowed-out buildings, and wrecked vehicles. The service members described the damage as major and insufficiently communicated to the American public.

Political Context

The war, launched by the U.S. and Israel in February, has disrupted global energy markets and kept oil prices elevated. Trump initially predicted the conflict would last four to five weeks, but Aug. 28 marked six months since it began. The Pentagon declared that Operation Epic Fury—the initial strikes against Iran—ended in May, yet the U.S. and Iran have continued to exchange fire, and a ceasefire intended to end the war collapsed in July.

The administration has yet to present an exit strategy and is seeking tens of billions in additional funding. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testified in July that the war had cost $37.5 billion, a figure closely aligned with the CBO's new estimate. Hegseth also rejected characterizations of the conflict as a quagmire and urged Congress to approve a significant increase in the military budget.

The CBO report also warned that replenishing depleted munitions stockpiles could take up to five years, raising questions about the U.S. military's ability to meet commitments elsewhere. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that the war has stretched U.S. resources thin.

What Officials and Groups Are Saying

Rep. Brendan Boyle, a top Democrat on the House Budget Committee who requested the CBO study, said in a statement that the war has taken the lives of American service members and left others wounded. He added that beyond the human toll, the nonpartisan report makes clear the war has cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars while driving up costs.

The White House has argued against the validity of a previous war powers resolution adopted in June, and it remains unclear whether the Senate will take up the latest measure in its final two scheduled weeks of session before the November elections. The House-passed resolution from July has seen no movement in the upper chamber.

Trump has defended his strategy, arguing the conflict has degraded Iran's military. However, the administration has not outlined how or when the war will end, even as it requests additional funding.

Timeline

  • February 2026: The U.S. and Israel launch the war against Iran.
  • May 2026: The Pentagon declares Operation Epic Fury, the initial strikes, ended.
  • June 2026: The House passes a war powers resolution; the White House disputes its validity.
  • July 2026: A ceasefire collapses; the House passes another war powers resolution that stalls in the Senate.
  • Aug. 28, 2026: Six months since the war began; no exit strategy announced.
  • Sept. 14, 2026: Pentagon inspector general report details U.S. losses.
  • Sept. 15, 2026: CBO report finds $38 billion cost and inflation impact; House passes third war powers resolution 220-204.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the war powers resolution do?

It directs the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. It is a concurrent resolution, which does not require the president's signature, but its enforceability has been disputed by the White House.

How many Republicans voted for the resolution?

Seven Republicans voted in favor: Reps. Nancy Mace, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn, Tom Barrett, Brian Fitzpatrick, Warren Davidson, and Thomas Massie.

What did the CBO report find?

The CBO estimated the war has cost $38 billion and is rising by $3 billion per month. It projected a 0.5 percentage point increase in inflation in early 2027 and warned that replenishing munitions could take up to five years.

What did the Pentagon inspector general report?

The report found that helicopters for evacuating casualties were pulled from four countries and that hundreds of military facilities were destroyed.

Will the Senate take up the resolution?

It is unclear. The Senate has not acted on a similar House-passed resolution from July, and only two weeks remain before the November elections.

What Happens Next

The resolution now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain given the chamber's limited schedule and the stalled July measure. The White House is expected to continue opposing the effort, as it has with previous resolutions. Meanwhile, the CBO and inspector general reports are likely to fuel further debate over the war's cost and strategy as the midterm elections approach. With inflation rising, munitions strained, and no exit plan in sight, the conflict is poised to remain a central issue for voters and lawmakers alike. Ahad Reports will continue to follow developments in Congress and the administration's response.