Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) criticized Senate Democrats on Mar. 10 for filing five new War Powers Act Resolutions, saying the move is intended to slow down the Senate and target President Donald J. Trump.
Barrasso said the resolutions are not about advancing national interests or protecting Americans, but rather about creating political theater and hindering the Republican agenda in the Senate. He stated, “This isn’t about advancing the needs of the nation. It isn’t about helping people. It’s not about protecting Americans.None of that is true. It’s about slowing down the Senate, throwing instruments into the gears. All to try to create theater.Not to help protect our troops, not to help protect our people, not to make the world safer.”
In his remarks from Washington, D.C., Barrasso discussed the history of the War Powers Act, noting it was enacted in 1973 but first used by Democrats in 2018 against President Trump. He said there have been a total of eleven War Powers resolutions offered, with eight coming from Senators Tim Kaine and Bernie Sanders—all aimed at Trump—and that one such resolution was defeated last week.
Barrasso also pointed out that no War Powers resolutions were introduced by Democrats during Democratic presidencies: “You know how many they introduced when Obama was president? Zero. You know how many they introduced when Biden was president? Zero. Because when a Democrat is president, Democrats forget about the War Powers Act, ignore it completely.”
He referenced Senator Tim Kaine’s earlier comments regarding using privileged motions to take away floor time from Republicans as evidence of what he called partisan motives behind these actions: “Flood the Senate calendar with privileged motions where I’m taking the Floor time away from the Republican Party.”
Barrasso concluded his remarks by reiterating his view that these efforts are designed for show rather than substance: “That’s what this is all about… Their hand has been shown.”
The debate over use of War Powers resolutions reflects ongoing tensions between parties over foreign policy oversight and legislative priorities.
