House Democrats are moving to clip President Trump’s military authority this week as tensions with Iran reach a boiling point.
In a letter sent to colleagues on Wednesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that the caucus will attempt to pass a war powers resolution during Thursday’s pro forma session at 11:30 a.m. sharp.
The resolution, introduced by Ranking Member Greg Meeks, aims to limit the president’s ability to launch further strikes against Iran without explicit congressional approval. Jeffries made it clear that the move is a direct response to what he views as a lack of urgency from the other side of the aisle.
“To the extent Republican leadership refuses to bring Congress back this week, House Democrats will demand passage of the War Powers Resolution… via unanimous consent,” Jeffries wrote.
While the resolution is a significant symbolic move, it faces a steep uphill battle. Because it is being brought up during a pro forma session, a single Republican objection is enough to kill the effort instantly. Jeffries also took aim at the current diplomatic situation, labeling the two-week ceasefire “woefully insufficient.”
The push to restrain the executive branch isn’t limited to military maneuvers. Jeffries also confirmed that Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is scheduled to brief members on the 25th Amendment on Friday afternoon.
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This briefing follows a wave of demands from dozens of Democrats for the Cabinet to intervene after the president’s recent rhetoric. Public concern spiked after the president threatened to wipe out a “whole civilization” if Iran did not comply with demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, provides the specific procedures for replacing the president or vice president in the event of death, removal, resignation, or—most relevant to the current briefing by Rep. Jamie Raskin—incapacity.
Section 4 of the amendment outlines the process for removing a president who is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office” but is unwilling or unable to step aside voluntarily. To enact this, the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet (the principal officers of the executive departments) must submit a written declaration to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. Once this letter is submitted, the Vice President immediately becomes Acting President.
If the president disputes this by sending a written counter-notice claiming he is fit for office, the Vice President and the Cabinet have four days to respond with a second declaration. At that point, the issue moves to Congress.
To permanently strip the president of his powers, both the House and the Senate must vote by a two-thirds majority within 21 days to sustain the Vice President’s claim.
If the vote fails to reach that threshold in either chamber, the president resumes his duties.
For now, the Capitol remains a house divided, with Democrats pivoting toward constitutional safeguards while Republicans hold the line on the floor. All eyes turn to Thursday morning to see if the resolution survives its first sixty seconds.
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