For the first time since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026, Congress has successfully constrained presidential war powers regarding Iran. Both chambers passed resolutions invoking the War Powers Resolution of 1973, demanding explicit authorization for military operations beyond the statutory 60-day window.
The Senate initiated the move on May 19, 2026, passing S.J.Res. 185 by a razor-thin 50-47 vote. The measure relied on four Republican senators-Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Bill Cassidy-breaking ranks. The House followed on June 3-4, approving H.Con.Res. 38 with a 215-208 vote, including support from Republican Representative Thomas Massie.
The legislative push immediately impacted financial markets. Bitcoin surged to approximately $77,200 following the Senate vote. Ether, XRP, and Solana also posted significant rebounds, driven by macro sentiment rather than token-specific fundamentals.
Investors interpreted the congressional pushback as a signal of geopolitical de-escalation. Lower tail risks associated with prolonged conflict boosted risk assets. Concurrently, oil prices and Treasury yields declined, reducing inflation expectations and making fixed-income alternatives less attractive compared to higher-risk investments.
Despite the momentum, procedural hurdles remain. The House and Senate passed different measures, requiring reconciliation before reaching the president’s desk. A potential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override, a threshold the current margins do not meet. However, the bipartisan nature of the votes indicates a fracturing political coalition supporting continued military action.