In a series of high-stakes hearings on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced intense scrutiny on Tuesday as the Trump administration remains deadlocked with Congress over the legal status of the conflict with Iran.
The failure of these resolutions suggests that while individual members express alarm, the institution of Congress lacks the unified will to halt a sitting president during an active military engagement.
This shift is driven by the upcoming midterm elections and the tangible impact of the war on energy prices.
While the immediate focus is on drone strikes and naval skirmishes, many lawmakers are preoccupied with the long-term strategic value of Gulf basing and energy partnerships.
However, this strategy relies entirely on the assumption that the conflict will remain low-intensity and that the economic fallout can be managed.
Lawmakers confront Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the war with Iran spikes oil prices and triggers a constitutional debate over executive authority.