Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 8, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 8, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleU.S. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, plan next‑week’s renewed push for a war‑powers resolution to require President Trump to get congressional approval for further Iran strikes. The move follows Trump’s last‑minute two‑week ceasefire deal with Iran.
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers will try again next week to pass a resolution to halt the Iran war and force President Donald Trump to obtain Congress' approval for any further attacks, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday, hours after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire.
"Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment," Schumer told a press conference at his office in New York.
Trump agreed to the ceasefire on Tuesday, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
Trump's threat that "a whole civilization will die tonight" prompted global concern and censure from Democrats, dozens of whom called for Trump's removal from office. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians.
Schumer called Trump's statements "unhinged" and criticized the war for failing to weaken Iran's government or rein in its nuclear program, while global fuel prices have risen.
Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful. The Trump administration has sought to portray the war as a decisive victory, although the top U.S. general said U.S. troops stood ready to resume fighting.
The White House says Trump's actions are legal and within his rights as commander-in-chief to protect the U.S. by ordering limited military operations.
Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives have tried and repeatedly failed in recent months to pass war powers resolutions to force Trump to obtain lawmakers' authorization before launching military operations.
Trump's fellow Republicans in Congress - who hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House - have almost unanimously backed his policies. Although the U.S. Constitution says that Congress, not the president, can declare war, that restriction does not apply for short-term operations or if the country faces an immediate threat.
Separately, the Democratic leader in the House, New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries, said the House should also vote on a resolution to curb the war on Iran. "We need a permanent end to Donald Trump's reckless war of choice," Jeffries said on CNN.
(Reporting by Patricia ZengerleEditing by Rod Nickel)
The Senate is voting on a resolution to require President Trump to obtain Congress' approval for further military actions against Iran.
Lawmakers want to reassert Congress' authority and ensure any further military attacks are approved by Congress.
The push followed Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran and concerns over his threats and military actions.
Most congressional Republicans back Trump's policies and oppose efforts to curb his war powers.
The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, but does not restrict the president from short-term operations or actions in response to immediate threats.
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