ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A bipartisan effort to invoke the War Powers Act and end U.S. military action in Iran failed by a single vote Wednesday, but the measure marked a notable reversal for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who broke with her party — and her own past votes — to support it.
The measure failed 49-50 on Wednesday, with Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) voting against, splitting Alaska’s Senate delegation.
Murkowski was joined by fellow Republican senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in voting to halt U.S. military action under the War Powers Act of 1973.
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) was the sole person who did not vote.
The 1973 law requires Congress to declare war or authorize the use of force in an overseas conflict within 60 days — or 90 days if the president requests an extension. Neither has happened.
It was at least the seventh time Democratic leadership has brought a war powers measure to the floor since U.S. military operations in Iran began in March. In each previous vote, Murkowski sided with Republicans against the resolution.
In a statement released Wednesday, she said she reversed course because the conflict has reached the 60-day limit and the Trump administration has asserted that hostilities have ended, “despite the blockade and continued fire directed at members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as our assets, allies, and partners.”
Murkowski added that if fighting resumes, the Trump administration would be obligated to seek authorization from Congress.
“Until then, I will support measures to officially end hostilities and bring our men and women home. I will oppose any effort to redefine ‘hostilities’ in ways that allow the president to wage war indefinitely without seeking congressional approval as outlined by the Constitution,” Murkowski said.
In a statement, Sullivan’s office defended his vote against the resolution, saying the senator has consistently supported giving presidents of both parties broad authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. national security interests and American service members.
The office also cited Iran’s decades-long hostility toward the United States and argued that past administrations have sought to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Sullivan’s office characterized Wednesday’s vote as the seventh war powers resolution considered by the Senate and said the measure would send the wrong message by signaling a withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East.
“We should be supporting our troop’s mission, not undermining them,” Sullivan’s office said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the case for pausing the clock during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 1, arguing that a ceasefire suspends the 60-day deadline.
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses, or stops,” Hegseth said.
President Donald Trump suggested he alone would decide on any further military action, dismissing the need for congressional approval.
“We’re always in touch with Congress. But nobody’s ever sought it before, nobody’s ever asked for it before… why should we be different?” Trump said.
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