US Congress
The bicameral federal legislature authorising US war powers, spending, and domestic policy.
Last refreshed: 30 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Congress reclaim its war powers when Republicans keep blocking every vote?
Latest on US Congress
- What is the US Congress?
- The US Congress is the bicameral federal legislature comprising the House of Representatives (435 members) and the Senate (100 members). Established in 1789, it holds constitutional authority to declare war, authorise federal spending, and pass federal law.Source: US Constitution, Article I
- Did Congress authorise the Iran war?
- No. President Trump launched strikes on Iran without congressional authorisation. Both chambers drafted war powers resolutions demanding approval for continued hostilities, but Senate Republicans blocked passage and the White House indicated any measure that passed would face a presidential veto.Source: Senate vote record
- How much has the Iran war cost Congress?
- Congress has not been asked to approve supplemental war funding despite the conflict costing an estimated $1.9 billion per day. The Pentagon's war funding request reached $200 billion, but the White House has not formally submitted it to Congress, raising legal questions under the Antideficiency Act.Source: Pentagon briefing, Senate Appropriations subcommittee
- What is the War Powers Resolution and does it apply to Iran?
- The War Powers Resolution requires the president to seek congressional authorisation for military hostilities beyond 60 days. Democrats argue it applies fully to the Iran conflict. Republicans and the White House contend existing authorisations are sufficient. The Senate blocked a resolution invoking it in March 2026.Source: Kaine-Paul War Powers Resolution vote
- What is Congress doing about AI data centres?
- Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced the AI Data Centre Moratorium Act in March 2026, which would ban all new AI data centre construction until Congress passes legislation covering worker protections, consumer rights, civil rights, and environmental standards.Source: AI Data Centre Moratorium Act
Background
US Congress is the United States' bicameral federal legislature, established by Article I of the Constitution in 1789. It comprises two chambers: the House of Representatives (435 members, two-year terms) and the US Senate (100 members, six-year terms). Congress holds the sole constitutional authority to declare war, authorise federal spending, and pass federal law.
Congress has been central to the Iran conflict, where Donald Trump launched strikes without authorisation. Both chambers drafted war powers resolutions demanding approval for continued hostilities . The White House has not requested supplemental funding despite costs exceeding $24 billion, raising questions under the Antideficiency Act . Progressives separately introduced the AI Data Centre Moratorium Act, conditioning new infrastructure on congressional worker protections .
The defining tension is constitutional: Congress holds the war-making purse yet has been systematically bypassed. Senate Republicans blocked every war powers vote , while the executive draws on existing appropriations at unprecedented rates. Whether Congress can reassert its constitutional role is the central institutional question of 2026.