U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has sharply criticized President Donald Trump over his handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran, describing the administration’s approach as a “colossal failure” and announcing plans for sustained legislative action to limit presidential military authority.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at Capitol Hill, Schumer took aim at what the administration has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” dismissing the name and outcomes of the campaign.
“Let’s call Trump’s Iran policy for what it is. Not Trump’s Operation Epic Fury, Trump’s Operation ‘Epic Failure’… what a colossal failure,” Schumer said.
The Senate Democratic leader outlined a strategy to challenge the administration’s war powers by invoking Congress’s constitutional authority over armed conflict. According to him, Senate Democrats will begin forcing votes on a war powers resolution aimed at restricting U.S. military involvement in the conflict.
Schumer emphasized that the effort would not be a one-time action but a sustained campaign within the Senate. He warned that if Republicans block the resolution, Democrats will continue to reintroduce it repeatedly until action is taken.
“So if Republicans won’t act in the Senate, Senate Democrats will force the issue. Starting this week, we will bring a war powers resolution to the floor, and if Republicans block it, we will vote again and again and again until this war ends, or Congress does its job and holds the administration accountable,” he said.
He further revealed that multiple resolutions have already been filed, signaling a coordinated legislative push. “We will bring these resolutions to the floor every week. I believe 10 of them have been filed,” Schumer added.
The proposed measures are rooted in Congress’s constitutional role in authorizing military action, and they reflect growing concern among lawmakers about the scope and duration of the current conflict. War powers resolutions are typically used to limit or end U.S. military engagements that have not received explicit congressional approval.
Schumer framed the initiative as not only a constitutional obligation but also a moral responsibility to American service members deployed in the conflict zone. He pointed to the human cost of the war, noting that 13 U.S. service members have been killed since the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28.
The escalating political tension in Washington mirrors broader divisions over U.S. foreign policy and military engagement in the Middle East. While the Trump administration has defended its actions as necessary for national security, critics argue that continued escalation risks further loss of life and regional instability.
Schumer’s remarks underscore the increasing pressure on the administration from within Congress, particularly as casualties mount and the conflict shows no clear resolution. His pledge to force repeated votes suggests that the issue will remain a central point of debate on Capitol Hill in the coming weeks.
As the Senate prepares to take up the proposed resolutions, attention will turn to whether any bipartisan support emerges for limiting the president’s war powers, or whether partisan divisions will continue to shape the legislative response to the conflict.
