STRIKING A BLOW: The House passed a measure to restrict President Trump’s authority in the Iran war on Wednesday after weeks of unsuccessful votes, dealing a symbolic blow to him.
The lower chamber passed a war powers resolution by a vote of 215-208, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in supporting the measure. The GOP defectors were Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tom Barrett (Mich.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio).
The measure now heads to the Senate, which has already made some progress toward passing its own war powers resolution. But even if it passes the upper chamber, the vote will remain symbolic as Trump could veto it.
Still, the vote is significant as polls show the Iran war becoming increasingly unpopular without a clear end in sight.
“We’re inching closer to having both chambers of Congress declare this an illegal war. That’s huge,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said.
Trump had expressed optimism last weekend that a peace deal could be reached soon, but Iran said it was suspending talks in protest of Israel’s offensive into Lebanon.
The Hill’s Laura Kelly reports Iran has been using Lebanon as leverage in peace talks, seeking to drive a wedge between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In another instance of Republicans defecting from the president, six GOP House members joined all Democrats to advance a vote on providing additional military aid to Ukraine.
“This vote is not a process vote, it’s a statement on whether this Congress and all of its members stand with and support Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, and its fight for freedom, its fight for democracy, and its fight for liberty,” Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), who authored the motion, said on the floor following the vote.
▪ The Hill: Republicans rocked by Trump’s midterm approach.
▪ The Atlantic: Trump dreads a deal worse than former President Obama’s.
MOVING FORWARD: The Senate voted to advance the GOP’s immigration enforcement funding legislation Wednesday after a key roadblock was apparently cleared, when the Trump administration dropped its “anti-weaponization” fund.
The body voted 53-46 to begin debate on the reconciliation bill, which would cover immigration enforcement agencies through fiscal 2029. The vote starts hours of debate, which will be followed by an unlimited series of votes on amendments before the bill could finally pass later this week.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) brought the bill to the Senate floor after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the $1.8 billion fund for alleged victims of political prosecutions would be dropped.
Republican senators had originally intended to move forward with the bill last month, but the opposition to the fund caused a delay, passing Trump’s initial deadline of June 1 for the bill to reach his desk.
The president sidestepped a question Wednesday as to whether the fund, which he called a “beautiful thing,” is permanently off the table or only paused.
“I’d have to ask the lawyers,” he told reporters. “I don’t know.”
▪ The Hill: Path to renewing warrantless spy powers in jeopardy.
HERE TO STAY? Trump suggested on Wednesday that he plans to tap Blanche to stay in the position on a permanent basis.
The president said at a dinner at the White House that he would begin the process of nominating Blanche to be attorney general on Thursday.
In an earlier interview on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, Trump praised his former personal defense attorney, who was elevated to an acting role leading the Justice Department (DOJ) after Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi in April.
“He’s a very talented guy. Todd’s doing a very good job at DOJ,” Trump said in the podcast interview.
Blanche has overseen several controversial moves in his short time as leading the department, including continued investigations into perceived Trump adversaries and approving the creation of the “anti-weaponization” fund after settling a $10 billion lawsuit with Trump filed against the IRS.
Blanche told lawmakers this week that a controversial provision protecting the president and his family from IRS audits would remain in place.
▪ The Hill: Pence expects “issues” with Trump DNI pick.
▪ The Hill: Trump says UFC arena could be permanent.
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