House Republicans cancel vote curbing Trump on Iran

House Republicans on Thursday delayed a vote on a war powers resolution that would restrict President Donald Trump’s ability to continue U.S. military operations in Iran after it became clear that the legislation would pass.

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Lawmakers will have to vote on the resolution in June, however, after they return from their Memorial Day recess.

Congressional support for the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which Trump launched on Feb. 28 without lawmakers’ approval, has been slipping even among Republicans as the conflict disrupts global energy supplies and sends U.S. gas prices soaring.

The Democratic-backed war powers resolution has been voted down several times already by the Republican-majority House, but several lawmakers had indicated they would support it ahead of a vote scheduled for Thursday.

In a joint statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders said Republicans had been “cowardly” in pulling the vote on the Iran war, which has killed at least 13 U.S. service members, wounded hundreds of others and the Pentagon says cost $25 billion so far.

“Even as we prepare to recognize our nation’s fallen heroes on Memorial Day, House Republicans refuse to show up and be accountable to the brave service members that have been recklessly put in harm’s way,” they said.

Asked by NBC News whether Republicans would have lost the war powers vote on Thursday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said: “We just had some members that weren’t there for it who wanted to be recorded on it. So we’re going to be giving them that opportunity when we get back.”

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president has only 60 days to engage in a military conflict before Congress must either declare war or authorize the use of military force.

Trump, who said earlier this week that he had called off plans to renew attacks on Iran, says the law doesn’t apply because of the ceasefire with Iran that is still in effect. The U.S. military is also considering renaming the Iran war “Operation Sledgehammer” instead of “Operation Epic Fury,” NBC News reported last week, which could allow Trump to argue that the 60-day clock has restarted.

The House resolution, sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, would direct the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran “other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack.”

Another war powers resolution came close to passing in the House last week but fell on a tie, with three Republicans voting in favor. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, the only Democrat who voted against the resolution last week, had said he would vote for it the next time.

After the vote was postponed on Thursday, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., asked on the House floor why the resolution wasn’t being considered.

“Are we not voting on it because the American people are sick and tired of this illegal war?” said McGovern, the top Democrat on the Rules Committee.

“You guys don’t have the guts or the balls to vote on this,” he then yelled to applause from Democrats.

Earlier, the House rejected bipartisan legislation authorizing a location for a women’s history museum after Republicans amended it to say transgender people could not be featured in the exhibits. Eight Republicans have consistently been missing during this vote series.

Republicans in the Senate are also working to defeat an Iran war powers resolution that has moved closer to succeeding after being voted down multiple times. The resolution advanced to a final vote earlier this week, with Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joining three other Republican senators in support of it. Three other Republicans missed the 50-47 vote.

Meeks offered his war powers resolution on the House floor on Wednesday, starting a legislative clock for when GOP leaders have to bring it up for a vote.

When the chamber returns on June 2, it will be at the end of the legislative clock and lawmakers will have to vote on the resolution.