The US House of Representatives has voted for a third time to end the war in Iran, putting fresh pressure on President Donald Trump over a conflict that
has now cost more than $38 billion. The war powers resolution passed 220-204 late Tuesday, with all Democrats and seven Republicans backing the measure.
The vote came on the same day the Congressional Budget Office released a fresh estimate of the war’s financial cost. The CBO said US military operations against Iran had cost about $38.1 billion through August 1. It expects another $2 billion to $3 billion in spending for every month the fighting continues, depending on its intensity.
🚨🚨The House has passed an Iran War Powers Resolution with bipartisan support for a third time.
The American people have made abundantly clear they do not support this failed war. The president must end it. pic.twitter.com/YyElPYJIoP
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) September 16, 2026
Will Trump agree to end the Iran war?
That remains the biggest question.
Previous House resolutions seeking to restrict US military action in Iran have not reached Trump’s desk. The latest measure would still need to clear the Senate before reaching the president.
Trump is widely expected to oppose such a restriction. AP reported that the president would almost certainly veto the resolution if it eventually reaches him.
That means the 220-204 House vote does not itself end US military operations in Iran.
Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton, who pushed the resolution, told lawmakers, “Remember when Donald Trump said that this war would last just a few weeks?”
He said Congress should “actually ask tough questions, as the Constitution directs us to do”.
Republican Rep. Brian Mast argued that Iran remains a threat to the United States. He said Trump is against “forever wars, and that is what he is ending”.
$38 billion bill keeps growing
The financial numbers released by the CBO add another layer to the debate.
Its September 15 report estimates the direct Department of Defense cost at roughly $38 billion. Much of that spending is linked to replacing ammunition and equipment used or lost during the conflict.
The CBO found that the war has placed heavy pressure on US weapons inventories. Rebuilding some depleted munitions stockpiles could take at least five years.
The conflict is affecting the wider economy too. The CBO projects inflation could be around 0.5 percentage points higher than previously expected heading into 2027, partly linked to disruptions in oil and natural gas shipments.
Why this vote matters before US midterms
The timing is politically sensitive. The Iran war has continued for nearly seven months since US military action began on February 28. Lawmakers are preparing to return to their constituencies ahead of the US midterm elections.
Seven House Republicans supported Tuesday’s resolution, up from four Republicans in previous votes. That shows some movement inside Trump’s own party, even as most Republicans continue to back the administration’s approach.
The House has again made its position clear. Turning that vote into an actual end to US military action would require further congressional action and could still face a presidential veto.
