The Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposed war powers resolution aimed at preventing President Trump from launching military operations against Cuba.
In a 51-47 vote, Republicans blocked the resolution from moving forward.
Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan Collins (R-ME) were the only Republicans to support the resolution.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the lone Democrat to help block the resolution.
51-47: Senate blocks debate on a Cuba war powers resolution by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) would direct the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities within or against Cuba not authorized by Congress. Fetterman (D-PA) voted Yes; Collins (R-ME) & Paul (R-KY) voted No. Not voting:…
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) April 28, 2026
The Hill explained further:
Democrats sought to force the measure to the Senate floor under the expedited procedures laid out by the 1973 War Powers Act.
But Republicans voted 51 to 47 to sustain a point-of-order objection raised by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) against the Democrats’ motion to discharge the resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“The measure we’re talking about is completely out of touch with the facts in Cuba nor is it relevant to anything actually happening in Cuba right now,” Scott said. “President Trump has never suggested we put troops on the ground in Cuba. So this entire effort is moot.”
“Americans didn’t ask for a war in Iran and they don’t want one in Cuba. Yet Republicans just blocked my war powers resolution that would prevent another forever war and more needless spending,” Gallego said.
Americans didn’t ask for a war in Iran and they don’t want one in Cuba. Yet Republicans just blocked my war powers resolution that would prevent another forever war and more needless spending. pic.twitter.com/Y9XKd4tIxc
— Senator Ruben Gallego (@SenRubenGallego) April 28, 2026
Fox News has more:
When asked by Fox News Digital if he was surprised that most Republicans had stayed in line, save for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Kaine said, “You gotta ask Republicans about their position.”
“There are many saying that the 60-day time frame is relevant to them,” Kaine said. “We’ll see that because we’ll have an Iran war vote close to the 60-day [deadline] by the end of this week.”
Support for that conflict, while still holding out among most Senate Republicans, is growing strained by the day as the 60-day deadline for Congress to weigh in under the War Powers Resolution Act is set to hit this week.
At least three Senate Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and John Curtis of Utah — said they wouldn’t extend Trump’s war in the region after 60 days. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is working on an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) for lawmakers to weigh in on the conflict.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that Republicans should “do Trump a favor” by joining Democrats to block future engagements with Cuba without congressional approval.