U.S. Representative Ro Khanna said on Tuesday he will seek to force a vote in the House of Representatives on a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at preventing unilateral U.S. military action against Iran, citing what he described as growing signs that the Trump administration may be preparing for possible strikes.
“Trump officials say there’s a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress,” Khanna wrote on social media, referring to President Donald Trump. He said he and Republican Representative Thomas Massie will move to discharge their resolution from committee and bring it directly to the House floor next week.
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. https://t.co/FWQ245D6B8
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 18, 2026
The measure, House Concurrent Resolution 38, would require congressional authorization before U.S. armed forces could be used in hostilities against Iran, unless Congress issues a formal declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.
Khanna said the effort comes amid what he characterized as a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. He said the administration has positioned two aircraft carriers, multiple warships, fighter aircraft, and air defense systems in the region in preparation for a potential conflict.
“I first got into politics to end the Iraq War,” Khanna said. “I won’t let Trump launch a disastrous war without Congress voting to stop it.”
A war with Iran would be catastrophic. Iran is a complex society of 90 million people with significant air defenses and military capabilities. We also have 30-40k U.S. troops in the region who could be at risk of retaliation. Congress must do its job and stop this march to war.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 18, 2026
The resolution is grounded in the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was enacted over the veto of President Richard Nixon and was designed to limit a president’s ability to engage in hostilities without congressional approval. Khanna said the current military posture toward Iran meets the law’s definition of “hostilities,” even if fighting has not yet begun, because it represents what he called a “clear and present danger of armed conflict.”
Khanna warned that a conflict with Iran would be more complex than previous Middle East wars, citing the country’s population of about 90 million, its air defense capabilities, and the presence of tens of thousands of U.S. troops in the region who could be exposed to retaliation.
“A war with Iran would be catastrophic,” Khanna said. “We also have 30,000 to 40,000 U.S. troops in the region who could be at risk. Congress must do its job and stop this march to war.”
While Khanna said he supports diplomatic efforts to address Iran’s nuclear program and protect U.S. allies, he argued that lawmakers must formally debate and authorize any military action. He compared the moment to the period preceding the 2003 invasion of Iraq and said the vote could prove historic.
“Are we going to stop another endless dumb foreign war,” Khanna wrote, “or will the neoconservatives mislead us once again?”
Like the votes before the Iraq war, this could be one of the most consequential votes in the history of Congress. Are we going to stop another endless dumb foreign war? Or will the neoconservatives mislead us once again?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 18, 2026
Massie said the U.S. Constitution requires Congress to vote before the United States enters another war in the Middle East. He said he would oppose military action and framed the effort as preventing further overseas entanglements.
Congress must vote on war according to our Constitution. @RepRoKhanna and I will be forcing that vote to happen in the House as soon as possible.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 19, 2026
I will vote to put America first which means voting against more war in the Middle East. https://t.co/O0LcTDWNDS
The push follows media reports suggesting senior administration officials believe a military confrontation with Iran could be approaching. Axios reported that a Trump adviser said there was a “90% chance” of kinetic action in the coming weeks if negotiations fail, while Israeli officials have indicated they are preparing for the possibility of war within days.
Khanna said the resolution is intended to ensure that any decision to go to war is debated and authorized by Congress before U.S. troops are placed in harm’s way.
“Like the votes before the Iraq war,” he said, “this could define this Congress.”
