In a pivotal week for U.S. foreign policy, the White House is rallying to prevent Congress from restricting President Donald Trump's military authority in Iran. Both the Senate and the House are gearing up for critical votes on resolutions that would demand congressional approval for further military actions in the region.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spearheaded the administration's efforts, briefing top congressional leaders on Monday and planning a return on Tuesday alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Their agenda includes detailed discussions first in the Senate and subsequently in the House.

Despite these high-level briefings, bipartisan concerns persist over the sufficiency of the administration's evidence and rationale behind the recent military strikes in Iran. Many lawmakers are skeptical about the imminent threat Iran supposedly posed, which the administration cited as justification for its actions.

The Senate is set to vote on Wednesday on a resolution introduced by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), aiming to curb the President's war powers without explicit congressional consent. The resolution's success hinges on swaying at least five Republican senators, with Senators Todd Young (Ind.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Susan Collins (Maine) being key figures to watch, following their previous support for similar measures concerning Venezuela.

In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence on Monday in blocking a similar war powers resolution proposed by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), framing it as a critical measure to allow the President to "finish this job."

Amidst these tensions, another critical issue looms — the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), now in its 18th day. Republicans are pushing to leverage the heightened security concerns post-Iran strikes to pressure Democrats into passing a funding bill. The House Rules Committee is set to facilitate another vote on DHS funding on Thursday.

Additionally, heightened scrutiny is expected as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces Congress for the first time since the controversial fatal shootings by federal agents, which significantly contributed to the current DHS funding deadlock.

As Capitol Hill braces for a week of intense political maneuvering, the outcomes of these discussions and votes could profoundly impact the Trump administration's foreign policy and the legislative landscape leading into the upcoming electoral season.