Trump administration officials will reportedly brief House committee staff members on Sunday amid the U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran.
This includes the House Armed Services Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, according to Punchbowl News.
America teamed up with Israel in the bombing early Saturday in an attempt to smother Iran’s nuclear capacity and spur regime change after decades of hardline Islamic rule.
As of now, the lower chamber is scheduled to be out until Wednesday, but the House Democratic Caucus will convene Sunday evening for a virtual call to discuss the strikes, according to CBS News.
Democrats are dissatisfied with the lack of authorization from Congress, with many demanding an immediate return to Washington to debate the operation, citing the Constitution’s congressional war powers.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed seven members of the Gang of Eight — the congressional leaders who are briefed on classified intelligence matters — to provide notification before the strikes against Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed that House Democrats will force a vote on limiting the president’s war powers in Iran, criticizing President Trump for overriding congressional authorization.
“The framers of the United States Constitution gave Congress the sole power to declare war as the branch of government closest to the American people,” Mr. Jeffries said in a statement, adding that the Trump administration “must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war.”
The New Yorker said fellow House Democrats remain committed to a vote on the War Powers Resolution, intended to check the president’s power to commit the U.S. to an armed conflict, upon their return.
The resolution, spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, and Rep. Ro Khanna, California Democrat, lets members bypass House Republican leaders to force floor votes on war powers measures.
If passed, it would likely force Mr. Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities in Iran without congressional authorization.
The resolution was expected to fail in the House earlier this week as most Republicans and some Democrats proved to be an obstacle. But the cosponsors reportedly had already planned to force a vote on the resolution next week.
Mr. Massie renewed his commitment to forcing the vote Saturday, pledging that when Congress reconvenes, the two will work to force a vote.
“The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Khanna urged Congress to convene Monday to vote on the resolution, adding that every member of Congress should “go on record this weekend on how they will vote.”
