The Republican-led Senate killed a measure Tuesday that would have required congressional approval before the U.S. military takes action against Cuba, dealing another blow to lawmakers seeking to reclaim their war powers authority.
The vote fell short at 51-47. Only two Republicans crossed party lines to support advancing the resolution: Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky. Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman cast the sole vote against it from his party.
The failed effort reflects a larger pattern on Capitol Hill. With Republicans controlling the chamber and backing Trump's foreign policy agenda, efforts to impose legal restraints on his military discretion have repeatedly stalled. The White House has shown little appetite for congressional guardrails on overseas military operations.
Trump has turned up pressure on Cuba throughout the year, deploying Coast Guard and Navy assets to intercept ships carrying fuel to the island. The de facto blockade has severely constrained supplies. More notably, Trump has publicly mused about military intervention and regime change, saying the U.S. could "take" Cuba if it chose to do so.
Senate Democrats and a handful of Republicans argued the measure was necessary to restore the constitutional balance on matters of war and peace. Supporters contended that presidents should not unilaterally deploy military force without legislative consent, particularly when international tensions remain elevated.
This is not the Senate's first rodeo on the issue. Lawmakers have voted down comparable measures targeting Iran multiple times. House Democrats are separately pushing for a vote this week on Iran war powers resolution, though previous attempts in that chamber have also failed to gain traction.
The pattern underscores Trump's political strength among Republicans in Congress. Barring a major shift in the composition or priorities of the chamber, further restrictions on presidential military authority appear unlikely to advance.
Author James Rodriguez: "The Senate keeps punting on war powers, and the votes show Republicans aren't interested in checking Trump on military action anytime soon."
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