Senate to Take Up Trump’s Yemen War Veto Next Week

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced on Thursday that the Senate is prepared to “process” President Trump’s veto of SJ Res 7, the War Powers Act challenge calling for the end of the Yemen War, beginning next week.

While McConnell just calls it “processing” the veto, what it really means is debate and the possibility of the Senate trying to override the veto. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has already been calling for an override attempt, saying it is time for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority.

Since the resolution narrowly passed in the Senate, many are doubting that there is a serious chance to get to the 67 votes needed to override. The legal implications of the veto, however, and the continuing worsening of the Yemen War’s humanitarian impact, could have some switching sides.

The Republican leadership is clearly worried about that too, because reports are suggesting that they are going to start setting up procedural measures that would block the override from even being formally considered. This is probably not something they would be considering if they were confident the override would fail on its own.

Exact timing of an override vote, or even whether or not one will be permitted by the leadership, is unclear. Still, those wishing to contact their Senators can find contact information here, to urge them to support the override of the presidential veto on SJ Res 7.