Massie-Khanna Resolution (H.Con.Res.38)
Bipartisan House resolution to end US military action against Iran without Congressional authorisation.
Last refreshed: 30 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can a bipartisan anti-war coalition actually stop a president from waging war on Iran?
Latest on Massie-Khanna Resolution (H.Con.Res.38)
- What is the Massie-Khanna Resolution?
- H.Con.Res.38 is a bipartisan House concurrent resolution directing the President to end US military operations against Iran unless Congress authorises them by declaration of war or AUMF. Co-sponsored by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, it was defeated in the House on 5 March 2026.Source: US Congress
- Did the Massie-Khanna Resolution pass?
- No. The House defeated H.Con.Res.38 on 5 March 2026, one day after the Senate rejected the companion Kaine-Paul War Powers Resolution 47-53. Both chambers declined to limit presidential authority over the Iran conflict.Source: The Intercept / US Congress
- What is the difference between the Massie-Khanna and Kaine-Paul resolutions?
- H.Con.Res.38 (Massie-Khanna) was the House version, introduced by a Republican and a Democrat. The Kaine-Paul resolution was the Senate companion. Both directed a presidential withdrawal from Iran hostilities and both were defeated within 24 hours of each other.Source: US Congress
- Why did moderate Democrats vote against the Massie-Khanna Resolution?
- Six moderate pro-Israel House Democrats introduced a weaker competing resolution to give colleagues cover to oppose H.Con.Res.38 while appearing to address war-powers concerns. The tactic split the bipartisan Coalition and contributed to the measure's defeat.Source: The Intercept
- Can Congress still stop the Iran war?
- Congress retains theoretical authority to pass a War Powers Act deadline or defund operations, but the failure of H.Con.Res.38 and the Kaine-Paul resolution shows neither chamber currently has the votes to constrain executive military authority over the Iran conflict.Source: War Powers Resolution (1973)
Background
H.Con.Res.38 is a House concurrent resolution introduced in the 119th Congress by Republican Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Democrat Ro Khanna (California), directing the President to terminate US Armed Forces hostilities against Iran unless Congress passes a formal declaration of war or a specific AUMF. As a concurrent resolution it carries no force of law and cannot be vetoed, making it a political and constitutional signal rather than a binding legal instrument.
The resolution was defeated in the House on 5 March 2026, completing a two-chamber rejection: the Senate had voted 47-53 against the companion Kaine-Paul War Powers Resolution the previous day. Six moderate pro-Israel Democrats introduced a weaker competing alternative to fracture the bipartisan Coalition, and Speaker Mike Johnson declared limiting presidential war authority "frightening." The House vote ended the measure.
The resolution tested whether the rare libertarian-progressive alliance could restore Congress's war-declaration power after the administration engaged in the Iran conflict without seeking authorisation under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Both chambers refusing to act leaves executive authority unchecked and sets a precedent reducing Congressional leverage for the remainder of the conflict.
