House Rejects Iran War Powers Resolution as Trump Reshuffles DHS Leadership
Congress declines to constrain executive war authority on Iran as six U.S. service members have died, while President Trump fires DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and nominates Sen. Markwayne Mullin as her replacement.
House Votes 219-212 Against Resolution to Limit Trump's Iran War Authority
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-212 on March 5, 2026 to reject a bipartisan resolution that would have required congressional authorization before further U.S. military operations against Iran. The measure, co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, invoked the 1973 War Powers Act to direct the president to halt hostilities absent a formal declaration of war or specific congressional authorization.
The vote fell nearly along party lines. Two Republicans—Reps. Massie and Warren Davidson—broke from their caucus to support the resolution, while four Democrats voted against it: Reps. Henry Cuellar, Jared Golden, Greg Landsman, and Juan Vargas. The House outcome followed a comparable 53-47 Senate vote the prior day rejecting a similar measure.
The votes came after President Trump ordered strikes on Tehran beginning February 28, coordinated with Israel. Six U.S. service members have been killed since the start of the operation. Trump has stated the campaign could continue for approximately five weeks, and with both chambers now declining to constrain executive military authority, the administration retains broad discretion to continue operations.
Trump Fires DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Names Sen. Markwayne Mullin as Replacement
President Trump announced on March 5, 2026 the removal of Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, posting the decision on Truth Social. Trump simultaneously named Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as her intended replacement, with the transition set for March 31. Noem was appointed to the new role of Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a Western Hemisphere security initiative.
An administration official cited by NBC News attributed the removal to a range of factors, including Noem's Senate testimony in which she indicated Trump personally approved a $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign on immigration enforcement, alleged conduct issues, staff management concerns, and reported internal disputes with leadership at ICE and CBP.
Sen. Mullin, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, would lead a department that includes ICE, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Transportation Security Administration. His formal nomination requires Senate confirmation. Mullin's departure from the Senate would trigger a process under Oklahoma state law to fill his seat.
Texas Senate Primary: Talarico Wins Democratic Nomination; Cornyn and Paxton Head to GOP Runoff
The March 3, 2026 Texas primary elections produced decisive results in the contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican incumbent John Cornyn. State legislator and seminary student James Talarico defeated U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett with approximately 57 percent of the vote, securing the Democratic nomination outright without a runoff.
On the Republican side, no candidate cleared the 50 percent threshold required under Texas law. Cornyn led the field with roughly 41.9 percent of the vote, followed closely by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at 40.7 percent, with a third candidate, Hunt, at approximately 13.5 percent. Cornyn and Paxton will face each other in a runoff election scheduled for May 26, 2026.
The Cornyn-Paxton contest has drawn significant attention within Republican circles. Political analysts note that runoff elections typically draw more ideologically engaged voters, a dynamic seen as potentially favorable to Paxton. President Trump has signaled possible interest in weighing in on the GOP race. Texas has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1988, making the November general election a significant test for both parties.
What You Can Do
Track Congressional Action on War Powers
Review official vote records and the text of the Iran War Powers Resolution on Congress.gov.
Follow the Texas Senate Runoff
Track the May 26 Republican runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton on election results pages.
This content aims for factual reporting. SuperPage does not endorse any candidates, parties, or political positions.