House Speaker Mike Johnson has been accused of abruptly removing a war powers resolution from the House floor after it appeared to have enough bipartisan support to pass.

According to Representative Greg Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, lawmakers had already secured sufficient Republican backing to advance the measure, which aimed to assert congressional authority over ongoing U.S.military actions connected to the conflict involving Iran.

Meeks claimed that Johnson intervened directly to halt the vote, stating that the Speaker pulled the resolution from consideration and indicated it would be revisited after the congressional recess.

Meeks described the decision as a deliberate effort to prevent Congress from constraining presidential military authority, particularly in relation to former President Donald Trump’s Iran policy and military engagement.

He asserted that the bipartisan coalition supporting the measure demonstrated that there was enough political momentum to pass it before it was halted.

The incident has intensified criticism of House leadership, with Meeks suggesting that Republican leadership is attempting to shield executive military actions from legislative oversight.The controversy also reflects broader tensions in Congress over war powers authority, as some senators have also expressed concerns about U.S.involvement in the Iran conflict and have pushed for limits on presidential military action.Meanwhile, efforts in the Senate to advance related measures have reportedly stalled amid partisan disagreements.

The situation highlights ongoing debates about the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch in authorizing military force, particularly in politically sensitive international conflicts.